A study on Depression Trajectory Types and Self- Esteem of Disabled People - Focusing on the Growth Mixed Model

This study aims to apply the growth mixture model to categorize the changetrajectories of depression in people with disabilities over time and to identify how these categorizations affect self-esteem. To this end, data from the 1st (2018) to the 4th (2021) yearof Disability and Life Dynamics Panel were used. As a result of the analysis, first, it wasconfirmed that there were individual differences in the change trajectories of depression inpeople with disabilities. Second, as a result of estimating the number of latent profilesaccording to the change trajectories of depression in people with disabilities, the optimaltwo-tier type was selected and named the ‘gradual depression reduction group (a)’ (84.2%)and the ‘gradual depression increase group (b)’ (15.8%). Third, the more the marital status ofthe disabled person, the better the health, the more the job, and the more respect they receivein their daily lives, the more likely they are to belong to the gradual depression reductiongroup (a). On the other hand, the more economic difficulties, the more severe the disability,and the more multiple disabilities there were, the higher the possibility of belonging to theprogressive depression increase group (b). Fourth, as a result of analyzing the effect of thedepression trajectory type on the self-esteem of the disabled, it was confirmed that the‘progressive depression decrease group’ (a) had higher self-esteem. Based on these researchresults, practical and policy suggestions were made to reduce depression and improveself-esteem of the disabled.