To maximize the quality of life (QoL) among persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Malaysia, it is important to identify factors that are strongly associated with the QoL of PWDs. The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of QoL among PWDs in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study approach was applied covering 340 participants with hearing impairments, visual impairments, and physical disabilities. A multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the determinants of QoL. The seven QoL domains namely physical health, psychological, social relationships, environment, discrimination, autonomy, and inclusion were considered as dependent variables while demographic profile, socio-economic status, and disability history were considered independent variables. The contribution of independent variables to most of the QoL domains was modest. This study found that type of disabilities is a significant determinant for physical health, psychological, environment, discrimination, and inclusion domains. Meanwhile, the level of education is a significant determinant in the environment and autonomy domain. It was also found that age group is a significant determinant in the psychological domain. Meanwhile, employment status is a significant determinant in physical health domains. However, self-rated health is not significant in the discrimination domain. Both PWDs with good health conditions or PWDs with unhealthy conditions face the same experience of discrimination. These findings supplement the existing knowledge and contribute to future research, service planning initiatives, public education, and policy formulation. 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Author Biographies
Abd Aziz Alias, Department of Business Analytics, Sunway University Business School, Sunway University.
Dr Alias Abd Aziz is a lecturer at the Department of Business Analytics, Sunway University Business School, Sunway University.
Rohana Jani, Ungku Aziz Center for Development Studies, University of Malaya, Malaysia
DR ROHANA JANI is a Senior Research Fellow at Ungku Aziz Center for Development Studies, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She holds a BSc (Mathematics) from Ohio University, Athens, USA; MSc in Statistics from West Virginia University, USA and a PhD in Statistics from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Hanira Hanafi, Department of Syariah and Law, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, Malaysia
Dr HANIRA HANAFI received her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B (Hons) and Master of Comparative Law (M.C.L) from International Islamic University of Malaysia and Doctor of Philosophy In Islamic Finance from University of Durham, United Kingdom. She is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Syariah and Law, Academy of Islamic Studies, University Malaya Malaysia.
