Effects of Activities of Daily Living on Life Satisfaction: The Moderated Mediating Effect of Social Participation by Disability Type

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of activities of daily living (ADL) on life satisfaction among adults with disabilities, focusing on the mediating role of social participation and the moderated mediation effect of disability type. Methods: Data from the 2023 National Survey of Persons with Disabilities were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed using weighted data (<i>N</i>=2,549,155), while the research model was tested using an unweighted sample (n=7,630) via PROCESS Macro Models 4 and 14. Age was included as a covariate to ensure the robustness of the model. Disability types were categorized into external physical, internal physical, and developmental/mental disabilities. Results: ADL had a significant positive total effect on life satisfaction (B=0.36, β=.32, <i>p</i><.001), and social participation partially mediated this relationship. The moderated mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effect of ADL on life satisfaction through social participation was significantly moderated by disability type (F=8.27, <i>p</i><.001). Specifically, the indirect effect was significantly weaker in the developmental and mental disability group (Index=-0.04, 95% CI [-0.05, -0.02]) compared to the external physical disability group. No significant moderated mediation effect was found for the internal physical disability group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the relationship between social participation and life satisfaction varies by disability type. Tailored interventions emphasizing self-determination and meaningful participation are needed, particularly for individuals with developmental and mental disabilities.