The Role Of Self And Others In The Internalization Of Disability Identity: Toward A Model Of Well-Being And Resilience

How do people with disabilities come to understand themselves—and what role do others play in shaping that process? This question guided the MRI-sponsored project, “The Role of Self and Others in the Internalization of Disability Identity: Toward a Model of Well-Being and Resilience,” led by principal investigator Dr. Leslie Frazier  of Florida International University and co-principal investigator Dr. Jill Shelton of University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The project explored how sense of self, perceived stigma, and social relationships intersect to influence how individuals internalize a disability identity—and how that process may foster well-being and resilience. This research contributes to a growing body of evidence emphasizing identity as a dynamic interaction between the self and social context.

The research team collected data from 500 participants, completing data collection in June 2024. Since then, the team has been deeply engaged in cleaning, coding, and analyzing the data, including a detailed qualitative analysis of “possible selves”—how individuals imagine their future selves, both hopeful and feared.

Preliminary findings reveal that while participants envision diverse and meaningful futures, disability itself is not always integrated into those future self-concepts. This nuanced finding raises important questions about identity integration, stigma, and the pathways through which individuals cultivate self-acceptance and purpose.

This project has already had an impressive scholarly impact, with seven conference presentations delivered across major professional meetings, including: Association for Psychological Sciences (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.; Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA; Life Paths Research Center’s ResilienceCon, Nashville, TN.

Topics presented include relationships between agency and stigma, neurodivergent acceptance, disability identity and social support, and the role of cognition and resilience among individuals with disabilities. Several manuscripts are currently in preparation for peer-reviewed publication, with preprints to be shared as they become available.

Drs. Frazier and Shelton’s work provides an empirically grounded model for understanding how disability identity evolves and connects to mental health outcomes. Their findings highlight the importance of social validation, self-compassion, and resilience-building in promoting well-being among people with disabilities.