Postsecondary Students With Disabilities: Predictors of Adaptation to College

This study examined the relationship between acceptance of disability, perceived stigma of students on a college campus and adaptation to college for students with disabilities. One hundred forty-five surveys were collected from student participants via the disability support services offices at sixteen colleges or universities in the northeast and mid-west United States. The results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed two statistically significant relationships, students with a higher level of acceptance of disability were more adapted to college, and higher GPA was associated with less adaptation to college. The exploratory test of mediation revealed that the relationship between acceptance of disability and adaptation to college was significantly mediated by perception of stigma on a college campus. The implications for higher education support services and recommendations for future research are discussed.