Comparison Of Self-Esteem In Visually Impaired Adults Engaged And Not Engaged In Sports: Cross-Sectional Study

Aim:Self-esteem is a crucial psychological concept for mental health. The aim of our study is to compare the levels of self-esteem in visually impaired individuals engaged and not engaged in sports. Methods:A total of 85 visually impaired individuals, including 42 engaged in sports and 43 not engaged in sports, were included in the study. A structured personal information form and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used in the research. Results:The average age of visually impaired adults engaged in sports was 20.86±3.0 years, while those not engaged in sports was 20.88±2.92 years. Among visually impaired adults engaged in sports, 22 were female and 20 were male, while among those not engaged in sports, 26 were female and 17 were male. The analysis revealed that visually impaired adults engaged in sports had significantly higher levels of self-esteem compared to those not engaged in sports (p:0.001). When comparing by gender, there was no significant difference, but the self-esteem of both female and male visually impaired adults engaged in sports was significantly higher than that of females and males not engaged in sports (female p:0.001, male p:0.020). Conclusion:Engaging in sports increases self-esteem in both female and male visually impaired adults.