Physical Activity and Disability Acceptance Considering the Duration and Etiology of Disability in People With Visual Impairment: A Longitudinal Study.

Abstract

Background: Disability acceptance is considered a key factor in improving the subjective well-being of people with visual impairment. This study investigated disability acceptance across different levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation while considering the duration and etiology of disability.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2017 to 2022 Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled, focusing on Korea adults with visual impairment (n = 396). LTPA participation was categorized into high, mid, and low groups based on the amount of participation. Disability duration was measured from 2 points: the onset of the disability and the point of self-awareness. The causes of disability were categorized as either innate or acquired. A Generalized Estimating Equation was used for analysis.

Results: The high LTPA group reported significantly higher levels of improvement in disability acceptance (B = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32 to 2.61) compared with the low group. Disability acceptance decreased with increasing time after disability onset (B = -0.09; 95% CI, -0.18 to -0.01) but increased with increasing time after disability self-awareness (B = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.19). Acquired disabilities showed higher acceptance levels than did those who reported innate disabilities (B = 1.73; 95% CI, 0.24 to 3.22).

Conclusions: Individuals who participated in LTPA for more than 20 minutes more than 5 days a week reported significantly larger improvements in disability acceptance compared with those with lower levels of participation. These findings, while considering the roles of several covariates, can be useful in informing the design of LTPA-based therapeutic programs.