What about the quality of life and health of people with disabilities?

General higher dissatisfaction with life

Some of the most pronounced trends in living conditions among people with disabilities are seen in the SHILD studies in the areas of quality of life and health. These analyses generally show that 33% of people with major mental disabilities and 20% of people with major physical disabilities are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their lives. In comparison, the corresponding proportion among people without disabilities is 4%. Thus, the proportion who are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their lives is roughly 8 times higher among people with major mental disabilities and 5 times higher among people with physical disabilities than among people without disabilities.

Loneliness and experiences of feeling outside

People with disabilities are more likely to be lonely than people without disabilities. This trend is particularly seen among people with (major) mental disabilities, with a loneliness score of 6.2 out of 9 possible. For comparison, the loneliness score among people with major physical disability is 5.3 and 3.9 among people without experienced disability. The loneliness score is based on the respondents' answers to three questions regarding perceived isolation from others, social deprivation and feeling left out.

Poor sleep and pain

SHILD 2020 also shows that respondents with disabilities experience more sleep disorders, as well as often or always having pain, in comparison with the proportion of people without an experienced disability. Respectively, 45% with mental and 40% with physical disabilities experience poor sleep, up from 9% among people without an experienced disability. 74% of people with major physical disabilities often or always have pain, while the proportion is 11% among people without disabilities. In addition, 43% of people with major physical disabilities experience their pain as “severe”, while the corresponding proportion is 4% among people without disabilities.

Still a long way to go towards a level playing field

Overall, the 2020 SHILD study shows that while there is evidence of progression within certain living conditions among people with disabilities, there is still a long way to go before people with disabilities are included on an equal footing with others in society. This article has dealt sharply with some of these living conditions, especially in the areas of well-being and health. As such, the article is specifically based on Chapter 8 of the SHILD report, which appeared in 2021 against the background of the 2020 SHILD study. If you are interested in reading the full report, it can be found here: https://www.vive.dk/da/udgivelser/mennesker-med-handicap-16726/.