Self-consciousness and schematic investment of appearance in individuals with visual impairment

• Autor(a) principal: Mendes, José Carlos da Silva
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Alcaidinho, Durval, Alcaidinho, Maura
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2019.5.1.99
• topic: Autoconsciência da Aparência; Deficiência Visual; Investimento Esquemático da Aparência; Afeto Positivo; Afeto Negativo; Self-consciousness of Appearance; Visual Impairment; Schematic Investment of Appearance; Positive Affect; Negative Affect

Aim: Self-consciousness of appearance has been recently subject to investigation in several contexts, and studies in visual impairment are unknown. The objective of this study is to understand the self-consciousness of appearance in visually impaired individuals. Method: 104 participants (43 with congenital blindness, 19 with congenital low vision, 23 with acquired blindness and 19 with acquired low vision) answered a set of questions administered online or face-to-face, with answers option (not applicable) in all questions of Derriford Appearance Scale-short (DAS-24) and Appearance Scale Inventory (ASI-R). Results: All instruments used had good internal consistency. There were no significant differences in the investment in the physical appearance and self-consciousness of appearance between types of visual impairment. Negative Affect revealed to be a predictor of schematic investment and self-consciousness of appearance. Participants with congenital and acquired low vision were more uncomfortable with their appearance compared to participants with congenital and acquired visual impairment. Conclusion: Appearance concerns in the visually impaired are widespread, and internalization of body ideals also take place in blind individuals. Negative Affect is a predictor of schematic investment and self-consciousness of appearance.