Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Objectives</jats:bold>. To explore the relationship between disability and physical dependence handicap, and the mediating effect of personal (demographic) and environmental factors as modeled by the International Classification of Impairments, Disability, and Handicaps.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods</jats:bold>. Data on people with arthritis‐associated disabilities were abstracted from a national population survey (n = 16,017). A hierarchical physical dependence variable was formulated. Nominal logistical regression was used to determine predictors of physical dependence related to specific disability, personal characteristics, and environmental adaptation variables.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results</jats:bold>. The risk of physical dependence only increased substantially at age ≥75 years. Specific types of physical disability differentially predicted different levels of physical dependence. The major predictor of physical dependence was disability alone and in conjunction with environmental factors.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusions</jats:bold>. There appears to be a specific and ordered relationship between the level of physical dependence and various types of physical disabilities. The findings could have implications for therapeutic intervention and health status measures.</jats:p>