Mental Health and Depressive Mood in People With Visual Impairments

Introduction: Understanding depression in view of the characteristics of disability would be important for establishing strategies for mental health among people with visual impairment. This study was conducted to assess the mental health of people with visual impairments and examine the factors associated with depressive mood. Methods: The data were obtained from the 2016 Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled in Korea. The group difference in explanatory variables according to depressive mood was examined by the chi-square. To assess the effect of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health-related behavior, stresses, discrimination, and social relationships on depressive mood, a binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: The prevalence of depressive mood was higher in people with visual impairments compared to the general population. The demographic characteristics of people with visual impairments differed from the general population in terms of economic conditions and marital status. Not only stress in daily life but also stress due to disability was found to contribute to a depressive mood. Satisfaction with relationships with friends and family was associated with a lower likelihood of depressive mood. Discussion: This study demonstrates that people with visual impairments are likely to be more susceptible to depression than the general population. The association of depressive mood with not only stress in daily life but also stress due to their visual impairment suggests that disability, aside from the inconvenience due to it, can have a negative effect on mental health. The association of friends and family relationship suggests the importance of their supportive role. Implications for Practitioners: The specific characteristics of people with visual impairments in relation to mental health need to be considered and reflected in designing mental health support for the population.