Half-empty or half-full glass: The impact of sociodemographic variables and type of disability on optimism of persons with physical and sensory impairments

Abstract

Hope has a special importance for persons with disabilities, who are often overwhelmed with negative emotions of sadness, anxiety and fear of the future. The concept of hope can be determined as inner strength which helps in overcoming the effects of negative life circumstances. The aim of the study was to determine the overall level of hope in three groups of persons with disability, and to establish its relationship with sociodemographic variables. The sample (N=929) consisted of persons with physical disabilities (N=351), hearing impairments (N=337) and visual impairments (N=241). The following scales were applied: Herth Hope Index (HHI) and Sociodemographic questionnaire. The results indicate that younger participants expressed higher level of hope compared to older participants, women compared to the men, more educated participants had more hope than participants with lower educational level, employed participants and students had more hope than unemployed and retired participants, married and unmarried participants had more hope than divorced and widowed participants, participants who live with a partner, with a partner and children or with parents had more hope than participants who live only with children, and participants with higher income had more hope than participants with lower income. Persons with sensory impairments expressed higher optimism regarding future goals, higher optimism for overcoming problems, and higher optimism for receiving outside support compared to persons with physical disabilities.

Keywords

• hope
• persons with physical disabilities
• persons with hearing impairments
• persons with visual impairments
• sociodemographic characteristics