Personal and social resources and adaptation to chronic vision impairment over time

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the effect of personal (coping strategies and locus of control) and social resources (family and friendship support) on adjustment to chronic vision impairment in older adults at baseline (rehabilitation service application), 6 months, and 18 months later.

Method: 313 community dwelling, English speaking older adult applicants to a vision rehabilitation agency in the northeast were interviewed in their homes following informed consent.

Results: A larger portion of variability was accounted for in positive compared to negative outcomes. Greater use of acceptance coping, less use of wishfulness coping, lower endorsement of chance locus of control, and higher family support were associated with better baseline adaptation, yet these predictors had little effect on short- or long-term change in adaptation. Higher friendship support predicted increased adaptation to vision loss at both follow-up points. Friendship support was also associated with decreased depression at Time 3, and lower use of wishfulness was related to decreased depression at Time 2.

Conclusion: Results showed differential effects for positive versus negative outcome variables, short- versus long-term adaptation, personal and social resources, and within social resources, for family versus friendship support.

Keywords:

• coping
• social support
• adjustment
• chronic vision loss

Acknowledgements

J.P. Reinhardt was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R29MH53285). The research was conducted at Lighthouse International, and the authors want to express their appreciation to the study participants who shared their life experiences with us.