Mastery and self-esteem mediate the association between visual acuity and mental health: a population-based longitudinal cohort study

Summary

This study aimed to determine the influence of mastery and self-esteem on the relationship between visual acuity and mental health. A longitudinal cohort study was performed using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), collected between 2001 and 2012. A community-based population of 2599 older adults were included. Mean age was 72 years, 56% was female and 1.2% qualified as having low vision. Visual impairment was associated with a lower sense of mastery (β = − 0.477, p < 0.001), lower self-esteem (β = − 0.166, p = 0.008) and more depression (β = 0.235, p < 0.001). No significant association between visual acuity and anxiety was found. The relationship between visual acuity and depression was mediated by self-esteem (25%) and sense of mastery (79%). Vision loss was associated with depression. This association was mediated by self-esteem and sense of mastery