Illness Cognitions and Coping Self-efficacy in Depression Among Persons With Low Vision

Summary

To investigate the mediating role of coping self-efficacy (CSE) between two types of illness cognitions (i.e., acceptance and helplessness) and depressive symptoms in persons with low vision. This was a single-group, cross-sectional study. Lower levels of acceptance and higher levels of helplessness illness cognitions were associated with lower self-efficacy in problem-focused coping (b ¼ 0.38, P < 0.001, b ¼ 0.28, P < 0.01, respectively), which in turn was associated with greater depressive symptom severity (b ¼ 0.54, P < 0.001). Lack of acceptance and greater helplessness relating to low vision led to a lack of perceived capability to engage in problem-focused coping, which in turn promoted depressive symptoms. Third-wave cognitive–behavioural treatments that focus on acceptance may be efficacious in this population.