SELF-CONCEPT OF ADULTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

Self-concept scores of 38 adults, 19 with visual impairments and 19 ma tched controls, were tested using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TS CS). The participants were students enrolled in a mainstreamed univers ity setting. This allowed for an examination of how being different an d being competent impact the development of self-concept. It was hypot hesized that because the participants with visual impairments were fun ctioning in a mainstreamed setting, they might obtain less positive se lf-concept scores than their matched controls. Such a prediction stemm ed from previous theoretical arguments (Tuttle, 1984) which put emphas is on perceived difference from immediate social surroundings as a fac tor in negative self-concept. This research hypothesis was not substan tiated. Results are interpreted as potential evidence that a negative self-concept might not be among the common outcomes of living with a v isual impairment.