Contribution of Leisure Activities to Health Perception, Life Satisfaction, and Self-Esteem among Korean Individuals with Visual Impairments

Abstract

Introduction: We determined the types of leisure activities that affect health perception, life satisfaction, and self-esteem among Korean individuals with mild and severe visual impairments (i.e., those who have low vision or are blind). Methods: Using the 2015 Korean national census data, 429 individuals were selected and classified into two groups based on visual impairment level: severe and mild. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare each group difference, followed by univariate analyses. Results: Participants with mild visual impairment reported social activity was the highest mean scores on health perception ( M = 2.70, SD = 0.56) and life satisfaction ( M = 3.54, SD = 0.37), and religious activity was the highest mean score on self-esteem ( M = 2.79, SD = 0.52). Computer or Internet use was the second-highest score on health perception ( M = 2.59, SD = 0.51), religious activity was the second-highest on life satisfaction ( M = 3.33, SD = 0.46), and social activity was the second-highest on self-esteem ( M = 2.77, SD = 0.61). Among participants with severe visual impairment, computer or Internet use showed the highest mean scores on health perception ( M = 2.86, SD = 0.38) and self-esteem ( M = 2.64, SD = 0.50), while social activity had the highest mean score on life satisfaction ( M = 3.37, SD = 0.42). Discussion: Social and religious activity promoted health perception, life satisfaction, and self-esteem among participants with mild visual impairments. Social activity and computer or Internet use contributed to health perception, life satisfaction, and self-esteem among participants with severe visual impairments. Implications for practitioners: Leisure service providers and recreational therapists can support socialization and the building of friendships by individuals with visual impairments by designing and implementing social activities. Marketing and information dissemination using the Internet could aid access to necessary information among such individuals. Employing online social communities for social networking, information access, and education will contribute to their health and life satisfaction.