The Impact of Pain and Mobility Status on Well-being in Young Adults with Disabilities 1853

Life satisfaction is a common struggle for some individuals with pediatric-onset disabilities, including acquired brain injury (ABI), spina bifida (SB), and neuromuscular disease (NMD). Life satisfaction may be particularly salient during young adulthood, which is a time of emerging independence.  Life satisfaction may be expected to be related to multiple factors, including physical/ mobility limitations and pain, though there is currently very little research that has focused on the associations of pain, mobility status, and life satisfaction. In view of this gap in the literature, this study evaluates the relationships of self-reported pain during physical activity, mobility status, and emotional well-being in young adults with pediatric-onset disabilities. Our findings suggest that management of pain may be an important avenue for supporting life satisfaction in young adults with disabilities. Pain management may be multi-faceted and include adaptive mobility strategies and assistive technology advancements with the goal of enhancing physical function and emotional well-being. Further, older age may be a risk factor for problems with life satisfaction, highlighting the need for ongoing psychosocial supports that continue well into young adulthood.