Urgent Need of Integrated Health and Social Care to Alleviate High Psychological Distress in People with Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional National Representative Survey in Australia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors in association with high psychological distress in people with disabilities. METHODS: We used the 2015 national survey on disability in Australia to derive the representative study population of 7936 people with disabilities aged 18+ years. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to define high psychological distress (scores ≥22). The explanatory variables included socioeconomic status, physical health, social relationships and environment factors. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were evaluated using weighted Logistic regression models with lasso techniques. RESULTS: Approximately 21 in 100 study participants experienced high psychological distress. The risk of high psychological distress decreased with age and high educational attainment. Having non-English speaking background (2.31; 1.87–2.85) and need for assistance in cognitive or emotional tasks (3.25; 2.65–3.98) were independently significantly associated with high psychological distress in people with disabilities. Delay seeing a GP was associated with a 2-fold risk increase. CONCLUSION: Integrated healthcare and social support are warranted with appropriate targeting to improve mental health outcomes in people with disabilities.