OPTOMETRY · SEMESTER 1 Psychology: Behaviour and Visual Impairment General Psychology START READING NOTES Contents of This Topic Psychology: Behaviour and Visual Impairment Developmental Psychology) Psychology: Behaviour and Visual Impairment Topic 03 Evaluate psychological factors impact on patient behavior in responding to visual impairment and eye care recommendationsTOPIC CONTENT Explain what is illness behavior and does is affect individual Explain the fields of psychology (Abnormal Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Clinical psychology counselling psychology Environmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, Health Psychology, Organizational Psychology Developmental Psychology) Explain factors influencing the use of visual impairment tools for different clients (age, gender, occupation, education health-related factors, disease and poor physical and mental health, quality of service culture religion) Explain physiological consequences of stress Explain the different types of psychological reinforcement Explain the Accident prone personality concept (aggressive hostile, or overactive carelessness, non-orderly) Explain the concept of Leaned helplessness and how it attributes to a particular outcomeIllness behavior and does is affect individual Illness behavior refers to the various ways individuals perceive, interpret, and act upon bodily symptoms or sensations. It covers the entire process of how a person monitors their body, defines a symptom as abnormal, takes action (e.g., self-care or seeking professional help), and follows treatment recommendations.Cont… Minimization of Symptoms: Patients may rationalize symptoms like blurry vision or eye fatigue as temporary, age-related, or simply "tired eyes," leading them to avoid or delay an eye exam. Fear and Avoidance: Anxiety surrounding potential eye disease (e.g., fear of being told they are losing their sight) can lead to avoidance of routine care. Lack of Knowledge: A lack of understanding regarding the asymptomatic nature of many eye diseases, such as glaucoma, means patients may not seek care until permanent vision loss has already occurred. Low Perceived Severity: Patients who do not feel their eye condition is serious, or who perceive little threat to their quality of life, may fail to use drops, attend follow-up appointments, or fill prescriptions.Cont… "Drop-Out" Behavior: Patients with chronic, slow-progressing diseases may stop coming to the optometrist once they feel their condition is stable or if they become disheartened by the lack of immediate improvement. Under-Reporting of Symptoms: A patient’s, particularly a child's, tendency to believe their vision is "normal" (even if it is not) means they may not report symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. Emotional Responses: Fear or anxiety during the examination can lead to poor cooperation during critical, high-stress tests like tonometry (eye pressure check). Perception of Pain: Patients with higher psychological stress or depression may have a lower threshold for physical discomfort, reporting more severe dry eye or pain symptoms, which can complicate the diagnosis. .fields of psychology Psychology is a diverse field exploring human behavior and mental processes through specialized subfields. Key areas include Clinical and Counseling Psychology for mental health treatment, Cognitive Psychology for thought processes, Developmental Psychology for lifespan growth, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology for workplace behavior. Other fields include Abnormal, Educational, Environmental, and Health PsychologyCont… Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of atypical thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to describe, predict, explain, and treat mental disorders. This field merges clinical, biological, and psychological perspectives to understand conditions like anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. Cognitive Psychology Focuses on how patients perceive, process, and remember visual information, aiding in the diagnosis of visual processing disorders and understanding visual attention.Cont… Clinical Psychology Relevant when visual impairment causes severe psychological distress, requiring collaboration for mental health support, or managing patient anxiety regarding diagnosis. Counselling Psychology Facilitates patient adaptation to low vision or permanent vision loss, helping them cope with lifestyle changes. Environmental Psychology: Examines how lighting, workspace design, and visual clutter affect vision, aiding optometrists in recommending ergonomic changes to improve visual comfort. Educational Psychology: Crucial for identifying how vision issues, such as convergence insufficiency, affect learning, reading, and school performance in children.Cont… Health Psychology Focuses on promoting behaviors that maintain eye health (e.g., smoking cessation for macular degeneration) and helping patients adhere to treatment regimens for chronic conditions like glaucoma. Organizational Psychology Applies to managing the optometry practice, improving patient experience, and optimizing staff performance and workflow in clinics. Developmental Psychology Informs understanding of how visual function matures from infancy through old age, enabling age-appropriate testing and care (e.g., pediatric vision tracking or geriatric cataracts).Factors influencing the use of visual impairment tools for different clients The use of visual impairment tools ranging from low-tech magnifiers to high-tech is influenced by a complex interplay of individual, social, and technical factors. Key drivers include the perceived usefulness and ease of use, as well as the user's emotional state, age, and level of social support. Despite the benefits, abandonment of these tools is high (30–75%), often due to poor training or stigma.Cont…. 1. Age Older Adults (60+): Generally, have lower adoption rates for high-tech tools due to "low necessity" (using vision loss as part of aging), difficulty with complex devices, and denial of the severity of their condition. However, they benefit greatly from simple, high-contrast, low-tech, and magnification devices, as well as better lighting. Children and Teenagers: Acceptance is generally higher if introduced early, but teenagers may reject tools due to social stigma and the desire not to look different. Young/Middle-Aged Adults: Often prioritize tools that help maintain employment and high-tech, portable solutions.Cont…. 2. Gender Prevalence and Access: Women are more likely to experience vision impairment and, consequently, are higher users of services, but they may face more barriers, such as limited access to money and technology, particularly in lower-income settings. Adoption Rates: Studies have shown that while both genders use computers/screen readers, females may feel less inclined to use smartphones or other devices due to social stigma or perceived difficulties in usage. Technology Preferences: Males may show a higher preference for, or better performance with, high-tech assistive technology.Cont… 3. Occupation Job Requirements: Professionals requiring high visual accuracy (e.g., computer, reading) are more likely to use, and require, sophisticated aids (e.g., CCTV, screen reading software). Fear of Loss: Fear of losing employment can be a driver for adopting tools to improve efficiency, but it
