STRESS, COPING, AND ADJUSTMENT OF ADVENTITIOUSLY BLIND MALE VETERANS WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETES-MELLITUS

This study compared the coping strategies, psychological stressors, an d adjustment of 40 elderly male veterans with diabetic retinopathy and 40 with vision loss from other causes. The presence of diabetes, the recent onset of vision loss, coping by escape-avoidance, blaming onese lf, and the absence of planful problem solving were associated with di fficulties in daily activities, a diminished sense of well-being, and symptoms of depression. The psychological symptoms were usually of mil d severity.