Psychological intervention targets for people with visual impairments: The importance of cognitive coping and goal adjustment

Author(s):
Garnefski, N.; Kraaij, V.; Graaf, M. de; Karels, L.
Published
2010
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

Method. In total, data of 67 individuals with visual impairments were assembled by telephone interviews. Depressive symptomatology, cognitive coping strategies, and goal-related coping processes were measured. Relationships between these variables were statistically analyzed by Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses. Results. It was shown that a ruminative way of responding to visual impairments was related to more depressive symptoms among the study participants. In contrast, refocusing attention by seeking and re-engaging in alternative, meaningful goals was related to less depressive symptoms. Conclusions. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that both cognitive and goal-related coping could be important targets for intervention. Main components of treatment should include a combination of (1) teaching patients to decrease a ruminative way of thinking in response to their disabilities and (2) actively assisting patients in the search for and the re-engagement in new personal goals, when existing goals are obstructed by their impairments.

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Date issued
2010-12-31
Language
English
Is part of
Disability and Rehabilitation (2010), Vol. 32, no. 2, p. 142-147
hdl
1887/109429