Comparing Loneliness among People with Hearing Impairment, Vision Impairment and Normal People

The aim of the present study was to compare the loneliness in people with hearing impairment, vision impairment and normal people. The statistical population included all people with hearing impairment, vision impairment and normal people in Shiraz city. So, 116 subjects (32 with visual impairment, 21 with hearing impairment and 63 without impairment) were selected as sample size. People with hearing impairment and vision impairment were selected by purposeful sampling and normal people were chosen through multistage random sampling method. The measurement tool was Loneliness Scale. To analyze data ANOVA and MANOVA were used. The results showed that loneliness in people with hearing and vision impairment was significantly more than in normal people. Moreover, analysis of data about subscales revealed that in two subscales of loneliness, loneliness due to relationship with family and affective symptoms of loneliness, loneliness in people with hearing and vision impairment was significantly more than normal people. But, in one subscale (loneliness due to relationship with friends) there was no significant difference between people with hearing impairment, vision impairment and normal people. Due to the higher levels of loneliness in people with sensory impairments, it can be concluded that designing and implementing programs to reduce loneliness is a necessity for promoting mental health in these people.