The Relation of Vision Loss to Depression in Older Veterans

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between degree of visual loss and depression in male veterans over age 60, while controlling for the influences of general health and age. No relationship was established between visual loss and depression. However, self-reports of poor health were found to be a significant predictor of depression in this population.

Health Conditions, Activity Limitations, and Participation Restrictions among Older People with Visual Impairments

“…When age-related decrements in visual function exceed what is typical, the ability of older people to perform routine activities that define their social roles and quality of life may be compromised (Drummond, 1990). Researchers have examined vision loss in relation to imbalance (Gerson, Jarjoura, & McCord, 1989), falls (Brummel-Srnith, 1990;Daubs, 1973), hip fractures (Felson et al, 1989), depression (Horowitz, 1995;Robbins & McMurray, 1988;Rovner & Ganguli, 1998;Rovner, Zisselman, & Shrnuely-Dulitski, 1996;Teitelbaum, Davidson, Gravetter, Taub, & Teitelbaum, 1994), and mortality (LaForge, Spector, & Sternberg, 1992). While some researchers have examined the broad psychosocial effects of vision loss (Williams, Brody, Thomas, Kaplan, & Brown, 1998;Wulsin, Jacobson, & Rand, 1991), others have examined the performance of specific tasks (Freedman & Martin, 1998;Havlik, 1986;Watanabe, 1994).…”

Coping with a Visual Impairment through Self-investigation

“…Other studies found that there was no difference in the selfesteem of visually impaired and sighted subjects (Beaty, 1994) or that visually impaired children have poorer self-concepts than do sighted children (Obiaker & Stile, 1992). No relationship was found between the degree of vision loss and the level of depression by Teitelbaum, Davidson, Gravetter, Taub, and Teitelbaum (1994).…”

Psychosocial Adaptation to Visual Impairment

“…Each loss involved a painful farewell (a "death"), then, and Caroll identified 20 types of losses from blindness in his classic writing. These were (loss of) (1) physical integrity, (2) confidence in the remaining senses, (3) reality contact with environment, (4) visual background, (5) light security, (6) mobility, (7) techniques of daily living, (8) ease of written communication, (9) ease of spoken communication, (10) informational progress, (11) visual perception of the pleasurable, (12) visual perception of the beautiful, (13) recreation, (14) career, vocational goal, job opportunity, (15) financial security, (16) personal independence, (17) social adequacy, (18) obscurity, (19) self-esteem, and (20) loss of total personality organization. Since a blind person lost such a lot, Caroll emphasized that rehabilitation had to provide effective substitutes.…”