Psychological Adjustment in Adolescents with Vision Impairment

Abstract

The present study compared psychological adjustment of 158 adolescents with vision impairment and 158 sighted adolescents with a matched-pair design using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adolescent self-reports and teacher reports on emotional problems, peer problems, and total difficulties showed higher scores in students with vision impairment than in sighted students. However, the size of between-group differences was small, and adolescents who are blind and their peers with low vision showed similar levels of psychological adjustment. In addition, older students reported more emotional problems than younger students. Furthermore, differences between self-reported emotional problems of students with and without vision impairment were stronger in older participants. In both groups, girls showed more emotional problems and less conduct problems than boys. We conclude that most students with vision impairment are well adjusted but a minority may benefit from psychological interventions.

Self-reported visual impairment, physical activity and all-cause mortality: The HUNT Study

“…However, we observed that adolescents with SRVI scored high on symptoms of mental health problems at both time points, and our SCL scores are higher than what was observed among 30 Italian male athletes and non-athletes with visual impairment also using the SCL as a measure of mental health problems . Nevertheless, the higher levels of mental health problems among adolescents with visual impairment may be multifactorial, but some studies have found more problems coping with developmental tasks such as building social relationships (Huurre & Aro, 1998;Kef & Deković, 2004;Pinquart & Pfeiffer, 2012). This corresponds well to our finding that those with SRVI reported more often feelings of loneliness at baseline as to those with SRNI.…”

Attachment Styles and Self-Efficacy in Blind and Non-blind Female High School Students

“…The results are in line with the findings of research studies comparing two groups of blind and non-blind students in other fields such as selfdependence (Khanjani, 2009), self-confidence (GriffinShirley, & Nes, 2005, self-concept (Bolat et al, 2011), emotional problems (Pinquart, & Pfeiffer, 2012), depression and anxiety (Bolat et al, 2011), and psychological well-being (Kef, & Dekovic, 2004). Thus, blind people despite their sensory defects do not feel disable facing the difficulties in their lives.…”

“…Some researchers have reported that blind people compared to normal counterparts feel more lonely and isolated (Hadidi, & Khateeb, 2013); have weak self-concept (Halder, & Datta, 2012), weak body image (Pinquart, & Pfeiffer, 2012), low selfesteem (Papadopoulos, Montgomery, & Chronopoulou, 2013); suffer from more emotional problems (Pinquart, & Pfeiffer, 2012), depression and anxiety (Bolat, Dogangun, Yavuz, Demir, & Kayaalp 2011); experience more physical activity (Aslan, Calik, Kitis, 2012), limited social participation (Engel-Yeger, & Hamed-Dahe, 2013), and have lower compatibility and emotional intelligence. However, Bolat et al (2011) in their research tried to compare the blind and non-blind teen's self-concept and concluded that they did not have significant differences with each other with regard to their self-concept.…”

Comparative Study of Differently Abled Adolescents on Visual Impairment and Physical Deformity on the basis of their Home, Social, School and Emotional Adjustment

“…These findings are supported by Pinquart and Pfeiffer [4] who also report that students with vision impairment were well adjusted but a minority might benefit from psychological interventions. In case of physically deformed adolescents the study revealed that half of the respondents were poorly adjusted while as another 35 percent were extremely maladjusted and only 15 percent were well adjusted.…”