Coping with stigmatization and discrimination related to blindness and low vision.

Abstract

Purpose/Objective: Research suggests that effective coping with stress related to stigmatization and discrimination might protect the stigmatized persons against poor mental health outcomes associated with experiencing stress. Despite this, research specifically on coping with social stigma among people who are blind or have low vision has received less attention. We addressed this gap in the literature, by exploring the lived experiences of people who are blind or have low vision with regard to their perceptions of stigma and their coping responses. Research Method/Design: We employed a qualitative research method using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Participants were 11 Australians who were blind or had low vision, aged between 18 to 65 years, and were recruited via advertisement. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and was subjected to data analysis using IPA. Results: Two sets of themes emerged from the data analysis which we classified under 2 superordinate themes labeled as Ways of Coping and Coping Skills and Resources. Conclusions/Implications: This study highlights the significance of personal and contextual aspects of coping with stigma and discrimination by demonstrating the complex nature of how people who are blind or have low vision cope with stigma. Coping efforts might be tenuous and require cognitive and/or behavioral skills and psychological resources and as such, individuals experiencing stigma might benefit from interventions aimed at improving coping skills and resources, such as self-advocacy, assertion, or positive reinterpretation. Impact and ImplicationsThe present work contextualizes the perception of and reactions to stigmatization and discrimination related to blindness and low vision. This paves the way for future quantitative studies using the rich detail obtained from the lived experiences of the affected individuals. This work addresses a research gap in studying stigma related to blindness or low vision, by applying coping with stress models. The relevant literature is devoid of significant studies in this area. This work provides insight for those clinicians and allied health professionals involved in the rehabilitation of persons who are blind or have low vision. These people should have access to group or individual counseling and psychotherapy designed to improve social skills, to assist them in focusing on their strengths and available resources, and to counter negative thoughts and behaviors, which might affect their functioning, goal attainment in their lives as well as their psychological well-being.

The experience of albinism in France: a qualitative study on dyads of parents and their adult child with albinism

“…The multitude of coping strategies developed by PWAs directly echoes the fact that they must constantly adapt to societal norms in order to be perceived as “normal.” Some have such an urgent need to conform that they go to great lengths to conceal their disability, which may exhaust them. Another recent study has obtained similar results in patients with visual impairments (VI) [ 84 ].…”

Psychosocial implications of rare genetic skin diseases affecting appearance on daily life experiences, emotional state, self-perception and quality of life in adults: a systematic review

“…This type of behavior requires considerable effort from the person who gradually becomes exhausted and therefore weakens. Other studies revealed similar results in patients with intellectual disabilities [187,188] and visual impairments [189]. Indeed, depending on the degree to which their impairment is mild or severe, people with physical or sensory impairments might attempt to overcome their difficulties in order to be considered as "normal" [136].…”

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“…Because stigma is something that individuals with disabilities routinely carry with them as they participate in daily life, work, and other activities 17) , it is conceivable that individuals with visual impairments experienced more stress during the pandemic than they did in their daily lives. Like them, others in the community felt various stigmas in complying with infection control measures, so it can be assumed that there were difficulties in responding in a tolerant manner, even though they felt that contact and voice were necessary support for those with visual impairments.…”