The primary long-range objective of this research is to increase the understanding of the role of friends in the lives of aged women and men who are adapting to chronic impairment.
The specific aims of the study are to: 1) determine the effect of friendship support on adaptation to vision impairment and psychological well-being; 2) compare the magnitude of the effect of friendship support on adaptation to vision impairment and psychological well-being with the effect of family support on those outcome variables; and 3) compare the magnitude of the effect of friendship support on adaptation to vision impairment and psychological well-being in aged women with the effect of friendship support on those outcome variables in aged men. Participants will be women and men aged 65 and older who have applied to and received services from a community-based vision rehabilitation agency over the last year. Structured personal interviews will be conducted to collect quantitative data measuring the major study variables. Data will be analyzed using bivariate and multivariate techniques and a path model of the relations among the major variables of interest.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03MH046596-02
Application #
2247133
Study Section
Mental Health Small Grant Review Committee (MSM)
Project Start
1991-06-01
Project End
1994-02-28
Budget Start
1992-07-01
Budget End
1994-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Lighthouse International
Department
Type
DUNS #
073272486
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10022
McIlvane, J M; Reinhardt, J P (2001) Interactive effect of support from family and friends in visually impaired elders. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 56:P374-82
Reinhardt, J P (1996) The importance of friendship and family support in adaptation to chronic vision impairment. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 51:P268-78