Anahita Khodabakhshi-Koolaee - Counseling psychology Department, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran

Background: Nowadays, improving the quality of life for individuals with physical disabilities is a goal of rehabilitation. Among these, one of the most common and important physical disability groups is the Visual Impairment (VI). The aim of the present study was to compare the VI in athlete and non-athlete women in terms of self-concept and hope.Methods: In the present case-control study, ۱۲۰ blind athlete and non-athlete women, resident of Tehran (۶۰ participants in each group), were selected using simple random sampling method, according to the list provided by Goal Ball and Track-and-Field teams of the Blind and Visually Impaired Federation (۶۰ blind athlete women) and Association of the Blind, Visually Impaired, and White Cane (۶۰ blind non-athlete women) from March ۲۰۱۵ to August ۲۰۱۶. Both groups responded to Rogers' self-concept and Snyder's hope scales. Data were analyzed using t-test for independent measures.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between two VI groups of athletes and non-athletes in terms of real self-concept (t=۶.۰۲, P<۰.۰۰۱), ideal self-concept (t=۳.۶, P=۰.۰۰۵), and hope (t=۴.۴, P<۰.۰۰۱). Therefore, the VI athlete women had better self-concept and higher hope compared with the non-athletes. Conclusion: According to the findings, it seems that the exercise and physical activity, as a facilitating and health-promoting factor, plays a significant role in two variables of self-concept and hope in blind women. Hence, the inclusion of sport activities in programs for disabled people, especially for the VIs, can significantly be helpful to improve their psychological state.

Athletes; Blindness; Self Concept; Visually Impaired Persons