The impact of ableism on the health and well-being of children and youth with disabilities: a systematic review

Discrimination can affect both physical and mental health. Most research focuses on the health impacts of general discrimination or racism, while researchers give less attention to disability-related discrimination (ableism). Children and youth with disabilities are especially vulnerable to ableism. Our review aimed to understand the impact of ableism on the health of children and youth with disabilities. A systematic review was conducted involving eight international databases (Ovid Medline, Healthstar, PsychInfo, CINAHL, JBI EBP Database, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus, Web of Science). Four researchers independently screened 4698 articles for inclusion. The thirty included studies represented 20,495 children and youth with disabilities and parents representing them across 12 countries. The findings show that ableism negatively affects the physical health (i.e., physical injury and pain; worsening disability symptoms), mental health (i.e., overall psychological health; distress and emotional problems; depression; anxiety; suicidality; self-confidence, self-perception, and outlook), and overall quality of life among children and youth with disabilities. Researchers must urgently address how ableism contributes to negative physical and mental health outcomes and poorer quality of life for children and youth with disabilities. Research should continue exploring how ableism, including organizational forms of it, affects the health of youth. Children and youth with disabilities experience persistent and multiple forms of ableism at school, in health care, and in the community.Clinicians, educators, and service providers should consider engaging in training to address and reduce ableism among children and youth with disabilities.Policy and decision-makers at organizational and socio-structural levels should consider how to address ableist attitudes, practices, and policies in health care and education.Clinicians and educators should consider screening children and youth for physical and mental health impacts of ableism. Children and youth with disabilities experience persistent and multiple forms of ableism at school, in health care, and in the community. Clinicians, educators, and service providers should consider engaging in training to address and reduce ableism among children and youth with disabilities. Policy and decision-makers at organizational and socio-structural levels should consider how to address ableist attitudes, practices, and policies in health care and education. Clinicians and educators should consider screening children and youth for physical and mental health impacts of ableism.