This study supports previous reports that link obesity and psychosocial difficulties, but obesity alone is not the explanation for the higher levels of depression and lower levels of quality of life.
These findings support the contention that depressive symptomatology as measured by self-report in older adults with ARMD is mediated by one's perceived sense of individual control as it relates to intrapersonal factors underlying adaptation to profound vision loss in old age caused by ARMD.
This article describes a qualitative study that explored 12 older adults' successful adjustment to vision loss. These older adults identified factors related to their successful adjustment and offered advice to others who are facing the challenges of visual impairment.
Two groups of visually impaired older adults, minimally (n = 40) and severely impaired (n = 40), were compared on depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and various dimensions of control. The relationship of control to depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction among the severely impaired then was examined. The severely impaired were found to be significantly more depressed and scored lower in perceptions of control than the minimally impaired, butsignijkantdirerences were not foundinanxiety andlife satiflaction. Among the severely impaired, perceived control andthe internal domain of locus of control were strongly related to levels of depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction. Julia J.
Older adults are underrepresented in research, and a potential barrier to their participation may be the increasing prevalence of vision loss and lack of accommodation for this challenge. Although vision loss may initially pose a challenge to research participation, its effects can be mitigated with early, in-depth planning. For example, recruitment is more inclusive when best practices identified in the literature are used in the preparation of written materials to reduce glare and improve readability and legibility. Alternatives to obtaining written consent may be used. Interviews are made accessible when done verbally and the author uses cueing and good diction. Remaining vision can be optimized through seating arrangement, lighting, and magnification. Challenges encountered and resolved in a recent study with severely visually impaired older adults are offered here as exemplars. Methodology for identifying and recruiting a sample comprised exclusively of visually impaired older adults is also offered herein.
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