Health-related quality of life in working-age adults with visual impairments in Germany

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to gather data about physical activity and quality of life (QoL) for people of working age with visual impairments to optimize upcoming physical activity-based interventions in vocational rehabilitation. Methods Two hundred and seventy-seven former participants of four vocational rehabilitation centres in Germany answered an online questionnaire. The health-related QOL has been assessed by means of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The data were analysed via multivariate analysis of covariances (MANCOVAs), univariate analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) and discriminant function analysis. Results Compared to a normative group of adults aged 36–45, the study group showed lower values in all domains of QOL. The MANCOVA (visual acuity) produced no multivariate significant effect. Also, the ANCOVA showed no significant effect for the global dimension of the WHOQOL-BREF. The MANCOVA (leisure time activity) produced a multivariate significant effect. Post-hoc ANCOVAS revealed significant effects for all four domains of QoL. The ANCOVA analysing the global domain showed a similar significant effect as well. The active persons had higher values in all domains of QoL compared to the more passive participants. Conclusion Interventions in vocational rehabilitation should focus on leisure time activity to enhance QoL. At this stage, the role of physical activity is still unclear and further studies are needed.

Implications for rehabilitation

• People with visual impairments often show a worse quality of life than normal-sighted people.

• The degree of severity of the visual impairment does not affect quality of life.

• Sport and physical activity are effective means of improving quality of life.

• An active leisure time activity supports the improvement of the quality of life of visual-impaired people that participated in a vocational rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• Employment status
• Germany
• ICF
• job satisfaction
• leisure activity
• physical activity
• vocational rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our colleagues from the vocational re-training centres in Düren, Mainz and Halle (Saale) and the vocational training centre in Stuttgart, who provided expertise and greatly assisted the research. We would also like to show our gratitude to all participants from these institutions that took part in our study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding information

This study was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.