Leisure and psychological wellbeing of people with visual impairment

ABSTRACT Though leisure is noted to possess therapeutic efficacy, its impact on the psychological wellbeing of people with visual impairment, particularly in Africa has received little research attention. The burden of disability on the psychological wellbeing of people with visual impairment in African societies makes it imperative to understand how leisure contributes to their psychological wellbeing. Based on individual interviews with 43 people with visual impairment in Ghana, this study finds that the people with visual impairment participate in passive leisure activities and are not satisfied with their psychological wellbeing. Further, the findings indicate that leisure enhances and diminishes the psychological wellbeing of the people with visual impairment. In terms of enhancement of psychological wellbeing, leisure served as a space for reflection and recuperation and as a space for social interaction and bonding. Regarding decline in psychological wellbeing, leisure reinforced their loneliness and thereby triggered negative self-thoughts. The implications of these findings in the context of improving the psychological benefits of leisure participation to people with visual impairment are discussed.