Assistive technology, self-esteem and home factors as predictors of social adjustment of students with visual impairment in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

It has been observed that students with visual impairment often have wrong adjustment which has been affecting their wholesome personality and in particular, social adjustment. Previous studies have not adequately addressed their social adjustment. This study, therefore examined assistive technology, self-esteem and home factors as predictors of social adjustment among students with visual impairment in Lagos state, Nigeria.The study adopted survey research design of ex-post facto type. Purposive sampling technique was used to select one hundred (100) students with visual impairment. The selected students were drawn from two mainstream secondary schools and two rehabilitation centers in Lagos state. Nigeria. A structured questionnaire consisting of standardized scale such as Assistive Technology Usage scale, self-esteem scale, home factors and social adjustment scale were used to gather data in this study. Data collected were analysed using frequency, percentage and multiple regression statistical tools, and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that assistive technology usage, self-esteem and home factors (family background, parent's socio-economic status and parent educational background) had significant joint influence on social adjustment of students with visual impairment in Lagos state, Nigeria (F(5.94)= 10.992; p<0.05). Also, the result indicated that assistive technology usage and self-esteem had significant independent contribution to social adjustment of students with visual impairment (β=0.580; t=5.895; p<0.05. p=-0.556; t = 6.193; p<0.05) while family background, parent's socio-economic status and parent educational backgroundhad no significant independent contribution to social adjustmentamong students with visual impairment in Lagos state, Nigeria. Assistive technology usage, self-esteem and home factors positively and jointly predicted social adjustment of students with visual impairment. Therefore parents, social workers, rehabilitation officers and government workers working with students with visual impairment should take cognisance of the impact of assistive technology usage, self-esteem and home factors in order to enhance the social adjustment of students with visual impairment.

Keywords: Assistive Technology, self-esteem, home, social adjustment, visual impairment