Family functioning and coping strategies in families of people with visual impairment

Abstract

This article attempts to determine the relationship that exists between family functioning and the family coping strategies used by families of people with visual impairment while responding to this non-normative life event. The method used was a transversal correlational design that is part of a PhD research study called “An Analytical Model of Functional Relationships of the Fatalistic Attitude, Family Life Quality and Its Incidence in Functioning, Coping and Vital Events in Families of People With Visual Impairment.” The instruments F-COPES (Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale) and FACES-III (Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scale) were applied, and among the findings, it was established that there exist meaningful relationships between cohesion and internal strategies used by the families to face visual impairment. This report also establishes new perspectives for practitioners regarding the guidelines for rehabilitation practices and public policy designs for inclusion.