ABSTRACT
Disability and happiness—can they go together? Disability is viewed as a tragedy. It is usually believed that disability leads to suffering and it makes the person with disability less happy and satisfied with life. However, adolescents with disability are individuals in their own right and their belief in their capability can lead to their resilience and happiness. Self-efficacy and resilience can influence one’s happiness. The present study attempts to explore this question of whether general self-efficacy and resilience in adolescents with disability can lead to their happiness and well-being? Resilience and self-efficacy are psychological resources having significant implications for one’s happiness and well-being. Self-efficacy determines an individual’s resiliency to adversity and his/her vulnerability to stress and depression. General self-efficacy aims at a broad and stable sense of personal competence to deal effectively with a variety of stressful situations and promote psychological well-being. Resilience is viewed as a measure of successful stress-coping ability or the ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Happiness and well-being is viewed in terms of positive human functioning. The sample in the present study consisted of 48 adolescents with hearing disability selected purposively. Following tools were given: General self-efficacy, Brief Resilience Scale, and Mental Health Continuum Short Form. The participants were also given a single-item scale on happiness and interviewed with an open-ended questionnaire regarding happiness. Findings revealed that general self-efficacy significantly correlates and predicts mental health and happiness. Qualitative analysis of the questionnaire on happiness revealed a central theme of support by family and friends being a major factor in contributing to the happiness of the adolescents with hearing disability. The study has implications for the adolescents with hearing disability in specific and people with disability in general for enhancing their well-being.
