Description of the Study

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This study was a dissertation done by Holly Siegrist, a disabled doctoral student in the Ph.D. Psychology program at Saybrook University, and supervised by Robert Schmitt, Ph.D. This research investigated experiences of disability and aging, meanings that people with childhood-onset impairments make about aging, and ways they cope with the aging process. It examined the experiences of people with early-onset impairments who were aging.

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​The purpose of this dissertation study was to learn about the experiences of people who are aging with lifelong impairments. The goal was to discover the meanings older disabled people make about aging and strategies they use to cope with the aging process. This phenomenon was studied from the perspective of the participants.

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Furthermore, the purpose of this research was to explore disability and aging, meanings that people with childhood-onset impairments make about their situations, and the ways they cope with disability throughout their lives. Additionally, the aim of the research was to illuminate the coping strategies that people with childhood-onset impairments who are aging use when they are older, and how they are resilient. There needs to be a better understanding of the challenges that disabled people face with aging, and strategies they use to cope with these challenges that are helpful.​​

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Participants included 10 people in the United States with childhood-onset impairments who were aging. Qualitative interviews using thematic narrative analysis, which involves storytelling and identifying patterned meaning across data sets, were done. Before the interviews, participants were administered a survey where they rated their sense of well-being. In addition, there were focus groups so that the participants could share their experiences with each other. At the end of each focus group, handouts on mindfulness meditation and positive affirmations were provided to the participants. Also, participants were given a self-report measure, where they rated their sense of self-compassion. This research approach clarified psychological, thematic meanings in the experiences of the participants with an aim to yield greater understandings of the experiences of aging of disabled people and ways they deal with aging.

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The chief findings revealed the participants’ experiences of being disabled since early childhood and the aging process. All participants faced difficulties throughout their lives, and fears and losses with aging, but they were all resilient and had ways of empowering themselves. It was found that stress had a negative effect on health and well-being. The participants had wisdom and saw both positive and negative aspects of aging. They also had many coping strategies, such as a positive attitude, embracing disability and aging, a healthy lifestyle, sharing knowledge with and getting support from other older disabled people, meaningful goals, and self and other compassion.

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This study is significant because it highlights the unique experiences of older people with childhood-onset impairments throughout their lives and contributes to ways of understanding disability and aging experiences, and ways of coping. The study has many implications for clinical work, research, training, and policy change. Further studies on how stress can affect the health of disabled people, identity formation through the life course, and healthy ways to age with disability, are needed. See the results page for more detailed information. Also, to get in touch, you can contact me at hsiegrist4@gmail.com.