Abstract
Purpose :
Vision impairment has been associated with several psychosocial detriments including increased loneliness and psychological distress. Past research has focused largely on older adults, however more research is needed in characterizing the mental health of visually impaired adults of all ages. This study used nationally representative data to examine associations between vision impairment and psychosocial characteristics of adults aged over 18 in the United States.
Methods :
We used data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Vision impairment was defined as reported difficulty with seeing or inability to see, and anxiety and depression were measured through reported frequency of symptoms and use of treatment medications. Logistic regression models were adjusted for demographic characteristics and used to investigate the psychosocial characteristics of visually impairment individuals.
Results :
Among 20482 study participants, the weighted proportion of self-reported vision impairment was 20.5%. Individuals with vision impairment were more likely to report experiencing weekly depression (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.54, 95% CI 2.32-2.78, adjusted) and anxiety (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.98-2.28). Greater rates of anxiety and depression were associated with greater severity of vision impairment in a dose-dependent manner across all ages. Among visually impaired adults, younger adults (18-34) were more likely to report weekly anxiety (aOR: 3.25, 95% CI 2.70-3.92) and depression (aOR: 1.63, 95% CI 1.30-2.04) compared to older adults (65+). Vision impairment was also associated with reporting a lack of necessary social support (aOR: 1.54, 95% CI 1.44-1.64).
Conclusions :
On a population level, self-reported vision impairment may be associated with greater rates of anxiety and depression, as well as lower levels of social support. These findings suggest a critical role of psychosocial support for visually impaired individuals.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.