Abstract:
The current study aimed to identify the level of social support and its relationship to the level of social adaptation among individuals with motor disabilities in the West Bank, in light of the variables (gender, age, marital status, severity of disability, place of residence, employment status, monthly income, cause of disability—whether acquired or inherited). The descriptive correlational approach was used, and a questionnaire was adopted as the study tool. A scale for social support and another for social adaptation were applied, both standardized for the Palestinian environment. The actual study sample consisted of 175 individuals with motor disabilities, selected using a simple random sampling method. After collecting the questionnaires, they were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
The study reached several key findings, the most important of which was that the level of social support among individuals with motor disabilities was high, as indicated by the overall mean score of (3.66) and a percentage of (73.2%). Similarly, the level of social adaptation was also high, with an overall mean score of (3.81) and a percentage of (76.2%). The results further showed a statistically significant effect at the (α ≤ 0.05) significance level of social support on social adaptation among individuals with motor disabilities in Nablus Governorate.
The study also found statistically significant differences at the (α ≤ 0.05) significance level in the estimates of individuals with motor disabilities regarding the level of social support and its relationship to social adaptation, attributed to the gender variable in favor of females, as their mean score was higher than that of males. Additionally, the results indicated that the significance level was greater than (α ≤ 0.05), leading to the acceptance of the null hypothesis, which states that there are no statistically significant differences at the (α ≤ 0.05) significance level in the estimates of individuals with motor disabilities regarding social support and its relationship to social adaptation based on the variables of age, severity of disability, employment status, and place of residence.
The study recommends the establishment of professional and social support centers for individuals with physical disabilities, aimed at providing psychological and social support services, career counseling, and organizing peer support groups to enhance their sense of belonging and competence. Such initiatives are expected to contribute significantly to improving social adjustment and promoting integration into both society and the labor market.
