A Pathway to Mental Well-Being in Individuals with Visual Impairments in South Korea: The Role of Social Support and Social Activity Engagement
Yujin Lee, Jaehyun Kim, Sunhwan HwangIntroduction
This study aimed to investigate the relationships among social support, social activity, acceptance of disability, loneliness, and hope in individuals with visual impairments.
Methods
The sample consisted of 400 adults with visual impairments who utilized welfare centers for people with disabilities in Seoul, South Korea. A cross-sectional design was employed to analyze the relationships among the variables.
Results
Structural equation modeling results indicated that social support reduced loneliness and increased hope, while social activity participation was associated with lower loneliness but not directly with hope. Mediation analysis revealed that social support and social activity participation indirectly affected loneliness through their positive influence on disability acceptance. Additionally, the findings demonstrated a full mediating pathway: social participation levels indirectly influenced hope solely through the acceptance of disability.
Discussion
These findings highlight the importance of programs that strengthen social support networks and promote active social participation to improve the mental health of individuals with visual impairments. Moreover, our findings corroborate previous research showing that strong social support systems are crucial for promoting mental wellbeing and fostering a positive outlook among individuals with visual impairments.
Implications for Practitioners
Based on these findings, we provided practical recommendations for both practice and future research. Specifically, we emphasized the need to implement programs that enhance social support networks and encourage active social participation to improve mental health outcomes. Further studies are needed to explore the facilitators and barriers to social activity participation and social support among individuals with visual impairments.