PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF PARTICIPANTS IN WHEELCHAIR SPORTS - COMPARISON OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED DISABILITIES

Differences in psychological well-being between participants in wheelchair sport with congenital (n=50) and acquired (n=43) disabilities were examined. Psychological well-being was assessed by scores on mood, trait anxiety, self-esteem, and mastery. Analysis showed that the group with acquired disabilities had a more positive general mood, higher self-esteem and mastery, and lower trait anxiety than the group with congenital disabilities. This suggests that sports participants in wheelchairs who acquired their disabilities later in life have more positive scores on psychological well-being than those with congenital disabilities.