Assessing the Longitudinal Change in Low Vision: A Test of Competing Hypotheses. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liew, Hui-Peng
• Is Part Of: Journal of visual impairment & blindness. Volume 115:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 120
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: vision functioning -- growth curve modeling -- cumulative advantage -- persistent inequality -- age-as-leveler; Blind -- Periodicals; People with visual disabilities -- Periodicals; Blindness -- Periodicals; Vision disorders -- Periodicals; Blind; Blindness; People with visual disabilities; Vision disorders; Blindness; Vision Disorders; Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.4105
• DOI: 10.1177/0145482X211000959
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-482X

Abstract

Introduction: Visual impairment among older adults has increasingly become one of the biggest challenges to public health and personal well-being in the United States. This study aims to examine whether the intersectionality hypothesis can be used in conjunction with the cumulative advantage (disadvantage), persistent inequality, or age-as-leveler to explain heterogeneity in low vision trajectories across birth cohorts, race or ethnicity, gender, and the level of education. Methods: Growth curve modeling was used to analyze data from the 2002–2014 Health and Retirement Study. Results: The type of trajectory (i.e., cumulative advantage or disadvantage, the persistent inequality, and the age-as-leveler) that characterize low vision is largely dependent upon the characteristics of an individual (i.e., race or ethnicity, gender, and education). Discussion: Trajectories of low vision are higher among females and those from ethnic minority groups with low levels of education. Implications for practitioners: Targeted interventions and attempts to close interethnic disparities in vision functioning should begin early on in life and should focus on racial ethnic minorities, females, and those with low education.