Psychosocial Adjustment and the Meaning of Social Support for Visually Impaired Adolescents

Abstract

This article presents research derived from a nationwide study conducted at the University of Amsterdam into the psychosocial adjustment and the meaning of social support for Dutch adolescents with visual impairments. The findings indicate that social support, especially the support of peers, is important to adolescents with visual impairments. The differences between visually impaired and sighted adolescents proved to be small, but significant.

Is Love Blind? Sexual Behavior and Psychological Adjustment of Adolescents with Blindness

“…The present study is part of a large nationwide scientific study-the first one in the Netherlands-on personal networks, social support, and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents who are blind or have low vision [5,27]. This study was carried out in cooperation with the Dutch federation of parents of children with visual impairments (FOVIG).…”

Social networks and psychosocial development: A longitudinal Dutch study

“…This nationwide study on social networks and psychosocial development of Dutch adolescents who are blind or partially sighted started in 1994 in cooperation with the Dutch federation of parents of children with visual impairments (FOVIG) [2,3]. The population aimed at in this study for time 1 measurement included all adolescents 14 to 24 years old, living in the Netherlands who are blind or partially sighted, but have no additional impairments (such as hearing and cognitive impairments or learning disabilities).…”

“…Although it could be assumed that supportive relations with peers, family and important others are even more important for social and emotional development of youths with impairments and disabilities, research on these issues has only recently begun [1][2][3]. Health problems, like a visual impairment, threaten the quality and maintenance of relationships with family and friends, whereas at the same time these relationships play an important role in coping with the impairment.…”

“…Kef [2,3] reported results based on a nationwide study in the Netherlands reflecting some problems regarding social relations and psychosocial adjustment for adolescents who are blind or partially sighted. However, the similarities with non-impaired peers were larger than were the differences.…”

Self-concept in low-vision children and their peers without visual problems

“…In addition, they spend more time alone at home (Kef, 2002) and are overprotected by their parents, who limit or restrict their social contacts in the fear that some accident may happen to them (Beaty, 1992;Dorn, 1994). On the other hand, the school atmosphere is generally not favorable for children and adolescents with visual impairment or other disabilities (McCuspie, 1992;Pelechano, Garcı´a, & Herna´ndez, 1994;Verdugo, Caballo, & Delgado, 1997).…”