Impact of ableist microaggressions on university students with self-identified disabilities

Abstract

Ableist microaggressions are brief or covert insults that are targeted towards individuals based on their disability status (Keller and Galgay 2010 Keller, Richard M., and C. E. Galgay. 2010. "Microaggressive Experiences of People with Disabilities." Microaggressions and Marginality: Manifestation, Dynamics, and Impact. 241–268. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [Google Scholar]; Sue et al. 2007 Sue, D. W., C. M. Capodilupo, G. C. Torino, J. M. Bucceri, A. Holder, K. L. Nadal, and M. Esquilin. 2007. "Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice." American Psychologist 62 (4): 271. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.62.4.271.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Qualitative studies have revealed that anger, embarrassment, and frustration are commonly experienced by people with disabilities in relation to ableist microaggressions, however, more quantitative studies are required (Keller and Galgay 2010 Keller, Richard M., and C. E. Galgay. 2010. "Microaggressive Experiences of People with Disabilities." Microaggressions and Marginality: Manifestation, Dynamics, and Impact. 241–268. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [Google Scholar]). The current study examined the relationship between ableist microaggressions, academic performance, and mental health outcomes. Canadian university students (n = 108) with self-identified disabilities completed a survey that assessed disability-related discrimination, institutional betrayal, institutional support, academic performance, and mental health. Experiences of discrimination significantly predicted greater symptoms of anxiety, depression, poorer academic self-concept, and lower grade satisfaction. After controlling for the effects of overt and covert discrimination, institutional betrayal significantly predicted a lower academic self-esteem and higher symptoms of depression. However, institutional support does not appear to buffer against these experiences.