A gender perspective on the use of mobile social network applications to enhance the social well-being of people with physical disabilities: the mediating role of sense of belonging

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has demonstrated their potential to enable people with physical disabilities (PPD) to improve their livelihoods and reduce social exclusion in China. Only a few studies have been conducted to investigate how online social support boosts PPD’s sense of belonging and to determine which type of social support they need. We followed the sense of belonging theory and social support theory to review the related literature and understand the mechanisms by which PPD may use mobile applications to receive support in the online environment. Both personal interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted. We collected data from 337 PPD from the China Disabled Person’s Federation. Results of the statistical analysis revealed that both emotional and informational support are significantly related to sense of belonging. Furthermore, sense of belonging affects social connection and social well-being. The results of the moderation analysis showed female and male PPD received different kinds of support. The findings offer insights for disability service institutions interested in better enablement of PPD.