Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

2 MA in Rehabilitation Counseling, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

4 PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Abstract
Disability is a global phenomenon that has existed and continues to exist in all eras and societies. The aim of this research was to examine the mediating role of achievement motivation in the relationship between optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy among individuals with physical-mobility disabilities in the city of Mashhad. The statistical population of this study included all individuals with physical-mobility disabilities in Mashhad, from whom a sample of 218 was randomly selected. Data were collected using the Helms and Spencer (1977) Achievement Motivation Scale, Schwartz's (1999) Self-Efficacy Scale, Scheier and Carver's (1985) Optimism Scale, and Connor and Davidson's (2003) Resiliency Scale. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling (path analysis) methods. According to the results, resilience and optimism had a direct relationship with self-efficacy and achievement motivation. The mediating role of achievement motivation in the relationship between resilience, self-efficacy, and optimism with self-efficacy was confirmed. The results of the present study showed that resilience and optimism had a direct relationship with self-efficacy and motivation to progress, and the mediating role of motivation to progress in the relationship between resilience and self-efficacy and optimism and self-efficacy was confirmed. Also, optimism and resilience had a positive and significant effect on motivation to progress and self-efficacy.
Keywords: Achievement Motivation, Optimism, Resiliency, Self-efficacy, Disability.
 
 
 
Extended Abstract

Introduction

Indeed, physical impairments in individuals with physical-mobility disabilities often lead to negative self-images and diminished efficiency, adversely affecting their overall performance. This, in turn, can result in elevated levels of loneliness and heightened susceptibility to mental health issues. Henceforth, it is imperative to maintain the health and stable functioning of these individuals as self-efficacy, or confidence in one's own abilities, plays a vital role in improving the health status and overall performance of individuals with physical-mobility disabilities. Self-efficacy in individuals with physical-mobility disabilities can elevate their self-confidence and willingness to engage in specific behaviors, ultimately enabling the achievement of goals and improved performance. Optimism, as a significant determinant of self-efficacy, bolsters resilience in response to challenging, traumatic situations. By fostering positive adaptive and coping responses, optimism equips individuals to overcome obstacles and maintain a resilient outlook in the face of difficulties.
Optimism and self-efficacy are fundamentally related to enhanced adaptability, well-being, psychological health, and heightened resilience. Resilience constitutes a structured mechanism that holds substantial relevance for the fulfillment of the needs of individuals with physical-mobility disabilities. A group of interconnected factors profoundly influences the motivation of individuals with physical-mobility disabilities, among which optimism occupies a crucial position. Complementarily, cultivating and reinforcing the motivation to advance enables the generation of energy and the appropriate orientation of the behavior, interests, and requirements of individuals with physical-mobility disabilities towards purposeful and targeted objectives. Essentially, motivation to progress exerts a direct impact on the self-efficacy of individuals with physical-mobility disabilities.
It is conceivable that individuals with disabilities might perceive themselves as comparatively weaker and less capable relative to individuals without disabilities. Consequently, as they advance and partake in competitive circumstances to achieve their goals, they may gain increased motivation and receiving rewards due to success may serve as an impetus to further boost progress. The achievement of correct answers can subsequently enhance self-efficacy in patients with physical-mobility disabilities, thereby motivating them to provide more accurate responses, which, in turn, can positively influence their self-confidence. In light of this, it becomes apparent that there exists a dynamic interplay among motivation for progress, resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy. Given the pivotal role of motivation for progress and self-efficacy in the psychological aspects of individuals with physical-mobility disabilities, the present research is underscored as a crucial gap-filling study.
Research Question
The query being addressed in this research pertains to whether achievement motivation to progress serves as a mediating factor in the connection between optimism and resilience, as well as self-efficacy, among individuals with physical-mobility disabilities.

Literature Review

The outcomes of Kariminejad et al' (2018) study illustrate that self-efficacy training heightened self-esteem ratings and stimulated advancement within the disabled female cohort in the aftermath. Similarly, findings from King et al.'s (2020) investigation indicate that individuals with disabilities experience disproportionately elevated levels of loneliness owing to diminished self-efficacy, which concurrently exacerbates difficulty in forging and preserving social connections. Hamedi Nasab and Asgari (2020) research has also demonstrated that academic self-efficacy and students' motivation to progress exhibit higher-than-average and statistically significant levels. Additionally, scientific optimism has been found to exert an indirect impact on academic progress motivation via academic self-efficacy. Studies by Miranda and Cruz (2020) have illuminated that optimism exerts indirect effects on three facets of mental well-being through resilience. In parallel, research findings by Khademi and Kadkhodaie (2015) corroborate that learned optimism has a substantial impact on enhancing motivation for academic progress.

Methodology

This study unfolded by harnessing correlation-structural equation modeling. The target population comprised all individuals in Mashhad grappling with physical-mobility disabilities, and a sample of 218 participants was randomly drawn. Data were gathered through administration of the Helms & Spencer (1977) Achievement Motivation Scale, Schwartz (1999) Self-Efficacy Scale, Scheier & Carver (1985) Optimism Scale, and Connor & Davidson (2003) Resiliency Scale. Following the gathering of questionnaires, the study utilized AMOS-24 and SPSS-24 software for data analysis. Subsequently, data analysis was performed via Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling (path analysis) techniques.

Results

In summary, the outcome of the Bootstrapping test and the Sobel test in this study has indicated that the indirect effects of resilience and optimism, on self-efficacy, through motivation to progress, are significant at a confidence level of 0.99. This outcome substantiates the notion that motivation to progress plays a mediating role in the relationship between resilience and self-efficacy as well as between optimism and self-efficacy. Furthermore, the study findings substantiated that both resilience and optimism demonstrate a positive and statistically significant influence on both motivation for progress and self-efficacy. Moreover, the results revealed that motivation to progress exerts a positive and statistically significant impact on self-efficacy.
Figure 1: Mediation Model of Achievement Motivation in the Relationship between Optimism and Resiliency with Self-Efficacy in Individuals with Physical-Mobility Disabilities
 

Discussion

The purpose of the research was to investigate the mediatory role of motivation to progress in the relationship between optimism and resilience with self-efficacy among individuals with physical-mobility disabilities. Notably, the results of the study indicated that resilience and optimism have a positive and statistically significant impact on self-efficacy, with motivation for progress serving as the intermediary factor. This observation can be explained by asserting that individuals with physical-mobility disabilities, who display optimistic stances towards circumstances and anticipate favorable outcomes in the face of adverse events, tend to remain unperturbed and adaptable in the face of their condition, eschewing avoidance and instead viewing obstacles as potential gateways to success. Rather than perceiving limitations as hindrances, they endeavor to transform them into opportunities, viewing challenges as catalysts for triumph.
It appears that when individuals with physical-mobility disabilities possess the ability to adapt or effectively cope with their challenging circumstances, rather than disengaging, they confront the situation directly and, by bolstering their resilience, they discover greater motivation to reach goals and attain success. Consequently, they experience increased motivation in their progress and heightened optimism. These factors empower them to persist in difficult scenarios and employ more efficient strategies, ultimately resulting in enhanced performance. Indeed, resilience and optimism can play a pivotal role in making individuals with physical-mobility disabilities more hopeful in the face of challenges and problems, thereby fostering an increased motivation to progress and facilitating the selection of superior solutions. This heightened self-efficacy, in turn, reinforces the motivation and capacity of these individuals to confront obstacles and achieve their objectives, especially when confronted with constraints related to their disability or difficulties stemming from living with a disability.

Conclusion

The results of the study revealed that resilience and optimism, with progress motivation as the mediating factor, significantly and positively influence self-efficacy among individuals with physical-mobility disabilities. Specifically, resilience and optimism can directly and indirectly contribute to an enhancement in self-efficacy in such individuals, subsequently impacting their motivation to progress in a positive manner. Disabled individuals with heightened resilience exhibit greater prowess in managing stress and challenges, effectively utilizing their abilities and functional capacities. Individuals with a higher self-assuredness in their capabilities and competencies generally manifest increased optimism in the face of diverse challenges, refraining from succumbing to disappointment despite encountering disability and adversity. In essence, they are likely to experience augmented motivation to progress. The boost in motivation to progress, paired with enhanced resilience and optimism, also contributes to heightened self-efficacy among individuals with physical-mobility impairments. Hence, it is crucial to prioritize the optimism and resilience of these individuals since it can have a positive influence on their progress motivation and self-efficacy.

Keywords

 
 
References
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