Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies showed that older persons with vision loss generally reported low levels of health-related quality of life,
although study outcomes with respect to feelings of anxiety and social support were inconsistent. The objective of this study
was to examine the impact of low vision on health-related quality of life, including feelings of anxiety and social support,
among community-living older adults seeking vision rehabilitation services.
although study outcomes with respect to feelings of anxiety and social support were inconsistent. The objective of this study
was to examine the impact of low vision on health-related quality of life, including feelings of anxiety and social support,
among community-living older adults seeking vision rehabilitation services.
Methods
Differences of activities of daily living (Groningen Activity Restriction Scale—GARS), symptoms of depression and feelings
of anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales—HADS) and social support (Social Support Scale Interactions—SSL12-I) between
148 older persons ≥57 years with low vision and a reference population (N = 4,792) including eight patient groups with different chronic conditions were tested with Student’s t tests.
of anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales—HADS) and social support (Social Support Scale Interactions—SSL12-I) between
148 older persons ≥57 years with low vision and a reference population (N = 4,792) including eight patient groups with different chronic conditions were tested with Student’s t tests.
Results
Older persons with vision loss reported poorer levels of functioning with respect to activities of daily living, symptoms
of depression and feelings of anxiety as compared to the general older population as well as compared to older patients with
different chronic conditions. In contrast, older persons with vision loss reported higher levels of social support.
of depression and feelings of anxiety as compared to the general older population as well as compared to older patients with
different chronic conditions. In contrast, older persons with vision loss reported higher levels of social support.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Communication
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-0061-y
- Authors
- Gertrudis I. J. M. Kempen, Department of Health Services Research, and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Judith Ballemans, Department of Health Services Research, and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Adelita V. Ranchor, Department of Health Sciences, Section Health Psychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Ger H. M. B. van Rens, Department of Ophthalmology and the Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- G. A. Rixt Zijlstra, Department of Health Services Research, and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343