The moderating role of age on perceived burdensomeness among U.S. adults with disabilities

Objectives: Societal attitudes and environmental barriers may make individuals with disabilities vulnerable to mental health issues, including loneliness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidality. Those living with physical disabilities may feel inadequate and believe their presence distresses others. Although more common with age, younger adults with physical disabilities are more likely to experience these feelings. The present study investigates the association between physical difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) and perceived burdensomeness while examining the moderating role of age. Method: We used data from 721 adults aged 23–76 from the Midlife in the United States-1 (MIDUS-1) refresher and biomarker datasets. Results: We found a positive association between one’s level of physical disability and perceived burdensomeness. Age moderated this relationship, with those aged 73.4 years and above not experiencing this association. Conclusion: These findings highlight the nuanced effects of age on this association between physical disability and perceived burdensomeness.