Steringa, Gerben (2022) Wheelchair Mobility and Mental Well-being: How wheelchair use influences mobility and mental well-being for wheelchair users in the Netherlands. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
This research explores the relationship between wheelchair mobility and mental well-being and the effects between the two. Wheelchair use as a concept and its accompanying spatial issues have been prevalent in society, but the public environment has not developed to sufficiently accommodate for this demographic. Wheelchair users could therefore experience difficulties, both in moving around, as well as their image within society, potentially influencing mental well-being. The effects of wheelchair use on mental well-being have been rather unexplored, prompting the question: “What is the influence of wheelchair mobility on mental well-being for people in the Netherlands, and how does spatial planning policy affect this?”. Through hybrid on-site and online in-depth interviews numerous stories, experiences and sentiments from current and past wheelchair users were obtained to answer this question. The results show that the most significant spatial issues when using a wheelchair arise within the built environment, and in urban areas. Respondents experienced mixed mobility changes when using a wheelchair, with both positive and negative effects becoming evident. In terms of mental well-being while using a wheelchair, both positive and negative feelings were experienced. An important negative sentiment experienced was the image within and treatment by society, with being overlooked and ignored as main aspects. In conclusion, wheelchair mobility and mental well-being are closely related, and both spatial planning policy and society’s views are not yet up to standards to fully include wheelchair users within society.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Human Geography and Planning |
| Supervisor: | Osborne, T. and Lowe, T.A. |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Jul 2022 12:05 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Jul 2022 12:05 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3887 |
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