Well-Being of People with Spina Bifida in Japan

In this chapter, the well-being of people with spina bifida in Japan is discussed. First, the chapter outlines the current situation of people with spina bifida in Japan. Next, it briefly summarizes the trends in research on people with spina bifida in Japan to date and future challenges. On top of that, in this chapter the results of a questionnaire survey among Japanese adolescents and young adults with spina bifida are introduced, as well as the results of the long interview method, and the life story interview method, which is a type of qualitative research. Based on the all results, this chapter discusses psychosocial factors that influence changes in subjective well-being and the meaning of disability. Finally, it is suggested in this chapter that the following point of view is important for well-being of people with spina bifida. When it comes to understanding people with disabilities in the support of social workers, first consider separately the “disability attributed to impairment” and the individual’s “strengths that are not consciously recognized,” and draw out, utilize, and develop their strengths. It is important to find and dig up latent strengths within people with spina bifida that they are not conscious of at all and to make them aware of them. It is important for social workers to take the time to accurately communicate that this can lead to an expansion of the scope of their activities. Through these efforts, it is thought that people with spina bifida themselves will begin to be able to separate their “disabilities attributed to impairment” from “their own strengths.”