Self-concept of low vision adolescents and their peers without visual impairment

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate differences in self-concept between partially sighted adolescents and their peers without visual impairment. The sample included 49 low vision adolescents and 123 adolescents without visual impairment aged 14-18 who attended schools in Belgrade. Self-concept was measured using scales developed by Opačić (1995) and Rosenberg's scale of general self-esteem (Rosenberg, 1965). The results show that low vision adolescents have lower general self-esteem and lower levels of self-perceived physical attractiveness than their peers without visual impairment. There are no differences between the two groups in terms of other dimensions of self-concept: self-perceived intellectual and physical abilities, perceived attitudes of other persons toward oneself and rationality emotiveness. Further research should focus on mechanisms through which low vision influences adolescents' self-concept.

Cilj istraživanja bio je da ispitamo da li se slabovidi adolescenti razlikuju od vršnjaka neoštećenog vida u pogledu dimenzija pojma o sebi. Uzorkom je obuhvaćeno 49 slabovidih ispitanika i 123 ispitanika neoštećenog vida uzrasta 14-18 godina koji pohađaju škole u Beogradu. Korišćene su skale pojma o sebi Opačića (1995) i skala opšteg samopoštovanja Rozenberga (Rosenberg, 1965). Rezultati su pokazali da slabovidi adolescenti imaju niže opšte samopoštovanje i niže procenjuju vlastitu fizičku privlačnost, dok se u pogledu sledećih dimenzija pojma o sebi: intelektualne sposobnosti, fizičke sposobnosti, vrednovanje od strane drugih i racionalnost-emotivnost ne razlikuju od vršnjaka neoštećenog vida. Rezultati upućuju na potrebu daljih istraživanja mehanizama kojim slabovidost utiče na formiranje pojma o sebi.