Investigating Psychological Distress in Children with VI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Psychological distress in children with a visual impairment: the role of parental stress, parenting styles, and demographic factors
IRAS ID
293566
Contact name
Ian McCubbin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research has suggested that children living with a visual impairment (VI) may be at greater risk of experiencing reduced psychological well-being compared to typically developing (TD) children (Augestad, 2017). However, methodological and sample constraints have led to inconsistent findings within the literature. Further, few studies have specifically examined the role parental factors may have in reducing or compounding the psychological distress experienced by VI children. As parental mental health is associated with psychopathology in the general population (Batenburg-Eddes et al., 2013), it is likely that parental factors may play a role in the psychological development and well-being of children with VI (MacKechnie, 2018).
The current study aims to extend previous research on the psychological impact of living with VI for children and young people. We plan to collect information via questionnaires from children aged 8 – 18 years and their parent(s) while they attend their optometry review appointments at the Eye Hospital. Specifically, children will be asked to fill in two measures of psychological well-being: the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and the revised anxiety and depression scale (RCADS). Further, one parent of each child will be asked to complete the parental stress scale (PSS), the parenting styles and dimensions questionnaire short form (PSDQ-SF), and a demographics questionnaire (DQ). Children whose scores on the SDQ / RCADS place them in the clinically significant range will be referred for psychological support. If their distress is unrelated to their VI (determined via telephone consultation), a referral will be made to CAMHS. If their distress is related to their VI (determined via telephone consultation), they will be referred to a senior clinical psychologist at Children’s Psychological Medicine for psychological support sessions. At their final appointment prior to discharge, children and their parents will be asked to repeat the questionnaires to determine if the psychology input has been useful.REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
23/WS/0038
Date of REC Opinion
21 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion