ASSESSMENT OF SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-CONCEPT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN OGBOMOSO, SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Visual impairment has been shown to affect young people’s emotional and psychological well-being. This study therefore assessed the level of self-esteem, self-concept and psychological distress of virtually disabled students. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was employed in this study. Census sampling technique was used to recruit 61 visually disabled from a selected secondary school in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.  Rosenburg self-esteem, self-concept and K10 psychological distress questionnaire were used to collect the data. Analysis was carried out using SPSS 21. Results: Out of the 61 participants, 32 (52.5%) of the participants were less than 20 years. About 94% had good self-esteem, four fifth (88%) had severe psychological distress, and 93.1% had good selfconcept. The self-concept (r = -0.262; p < 0.001), self-esteem (r= -0.159; p=0.007) are negatively correlated with psychological distress.   Conclusion:  Students with visual-impairment exhibited good self-esteem and good self-concept but demonstrated high level of psychological distress   Keywords: Self-concept, self-esteem, students with visual impairment,, students, psychological distress