Trait anxiety among Japanese massage practitioners with visual impairment: what is required in Japanese rehabilitation education?

Abstract

This questionnaire-based study of Japanese massage practitioners with visual impairment ( n = 155, 126 males, 29 females, mean age = 41 years) found that measures of self-repression, helplessness and `daily hassles' were positively correlated to measures of trait anxiety. Also, trait anxiety was negatively associated with measures of self-esteem and perceived emotional support. Participants with moderate visual impairment (able to read print) showed significantly higher trait anxiety than those with severe visual impairment (those who read braille). Moreover, compared to sighted people in other medical professions, the participants in this study demonstrated higher levels of self-repression. Regarding onset of impairment, people with onset in adolescence had significantly higher self-repression scores than those with onset in adulthood. Overall, the results of this study are used to argue the importance of establishing social support systems in the workplace as well as incorporating psychological approaches with communication skills training in rehabilitation education for people with visual impairment.