A study from the PARTICIPA project at Institut Guttmann, published in the journal Social and Personality Psychology Compass, examines how psychological traits influence the social participation of people with disabilities. The study, which compares a cohort of individuals with disabilities to a cohort without disabilities, highlights how a person’s psychological profile can significantly impact their level of social involvement—beyond socioeconomic factors or the nature of their disability. As a result, the study identifies psychological traits as key targets for reducing social exclusion and isolation among people with disabilities. 

The research analyzed data from 755 adults without disabilities participating in the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (BBHI) and 492 individuals with disabilities from the PARTICIPA study. The research team identified three psychological profiles that followed similar patterns across both cohorts: 

• "Risky" profile: characterized by a high level of Type-D personality (defined by negative affectivity and social inhibition) and low levels of resilience and self-efficacy, understood as one’s perceived ability to cope with stressful situations. 

• "Neutral" profile: marked by average levels of Type-D personality, resilience, and self-efficacy. 

• "Protective" profile: includes individuals with low Type-D personality traits and high levels of resilience and self-efficacy. 

On one hand, the results confirm that people with disabilities report lower levels of participation—both in terms of frequency and satisfaction—consistent with previous studies that attribute this to physical and attitudinal barriers, as well as the lack of inclusive policies or adapted services. 

However, the findings also show that, in both populations—with and without disabilities—belonging to the “protective” profile is clearly associated with more frequent participation, fewer perceived restrictions, and greater satisfaction. In contrast, those in the “risky” profile report lower social participation, more perceived restrictions, and less satisfaction. These results suggest that psychological characteristics could be a key target for personalized interventions aimed at promoting social inclusion. 

This evidence has significant implications for strategies seeking to enhance participation and quality of life. “Psychological traits not only influence the perception of disability but can also become drivers of change to reduce social exclusion,” says Gabriele Cattaneo, neuropsychologist, PhD in Biomedicine, and lead author of the study. Since these traits are modifiable, they offer promising targets for individualized psychological interventions. “For example, mindfulness programs or peer mentoring could help reduce negative affectivity, increase resilience, and strengthen self-efficacy—especially in people with disabilities,” adds Blanca Cegarra, sociologist and PARTICIPA researcher.