Start Date

18-6-2025 9:00 AM

End Date

18-6-2025 10:30 AM

Abstract

Title of the submission

The existential nature of touch exchange for blind people as a bridge to confidence and participation in physical activities. A qualitative preparatory study using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Introduction

Lack of full proprioception in visually impaired and blind people (VI) negatively affects their lifestyle and, in combination with structural and societal barriers, lead to low participation in physical activities (Alcaraz-Rodríguez et al., 2021; Lieberman et al., 2018), deemed to build confidence and social interaction with further benefit to their phycological well-being (Elsman et al., 2018; Ilhan et al., 2020). Being confident in touching and being touched by people (i.e. touch exchange; TE) is part of exercising and sports, but for VI could be crucial in building self-efficacy in social settings, particularly from a Self-Determination Theory standpoint (Bandura, 2000; Deci & Ryan, 2011; McAuley et al., 2006).

Methodology

Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Braun et al., 2016), this study explored seven semi-structured interviews with VI (two women, five men, mean age 41, one heavily visually impaired, six completely blind) focusing on the influence of TE on confidence and exercising.

Results

Four overarching themes were produced: 1. Things don't exist unless I touch them; 2. In the right context, TE speaks volumes to human connections; 3. TE gives the freedom to become incrementally confident; 4. Sport and TE build confidence and can drag you away from dark places.

Conclusions

TE was confirmed as a valuable, trainable skill bridging human interactions and physical/psychological well-being against the many negative emotions often perceived by VI. Theoretical/practical implications on the development of new Touch Avoidance Scale Questionnaire (Ozolins & Sandberg, 2009) measuring TE confidence levels in future sport psychology interventions bespoke to VI were considered.

References

  • Alcaraz-Rodríguez, V., Medina-Rebollo, D., Muñoz-Llerena, A., & Fernández-Gavira, J. (2021). Influence of physical activity and sport on the inclusion of people with visual impairment: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010443
  • Bandura, A. (2000). Exercise of human agency through collective efficacy. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(3), 75–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00064
  • Braun, V., Clark, V., & Weate, P. (2016). Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In B. Smith & A. C. Sparkes (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (pp. 195–203). Routledge.
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2011). Self-Determination theory. In L. P. A. M. Van, A. W. Kruglanski, & E. T. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology. Sage.
  • Elsman, E. B. M., Koel, M., van Nispen, R. M. A., & van Rens, G. H. M. B. (2021). Quality of life and participation of children with visual impairment: Comparison with population reference scores. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 62(7), 14. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.62.7.14
  • Ilhan, B., Idil, A., & Ilhan, I. (2020). Sports participation and quality of life in individuals with visual impairment. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), 190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02285-5
  • Lieberman, L. J., Lepore, M., Lepore-Stevens, M., & Ball, L. (2018). Physical education for children with visual impairment or blindness. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 90(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2018.1535340
  • McAuley, E., Konopack, J. F., Motl, R. W., Morris, K. S., Doerksen, S. E., & Rosengren, K. R. (2006). Physical activity and quality of life in older adults: Influence of health status and self-efficacy. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 31(1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3101_14
  • Ozolins, A., & Sandberg, C. (2009). Development of a multifactor scale measuring the psychological dimensions of touch avoidance. International Journal of Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach, 3, 33–56. file:///C:/Users/m74al/Downloads/TAQ%20paper.pdf

Key words: visual impairment, self-efficacy, psychological well-being

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Jun 18th, 9:00 AM Jun 18th, 10:30 AM

The existential nature of touch exchange for blind people as a bridge to confidence and participation in physical activities. A qualitative preparatory study using Reflexive Thematic Analysis

Title of the submission

The existential nature of touch exchange for blind people as a bridge to confidence and participation in physical activities. A qualitative preparatory study using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Introduction

Lack of full proprioception in visually impaired and blind people (VI) negatively affects their lifestyle and, in combination with structural and societal barriers, lead to low participation in physical activities (Alcaraz-Rodríguez et al., 2021; Lieberman et al., 2018), deemed to build confidence and social interaction with further benefit to their phycological well-being (Elsman et al., 2018; Ilhan et al., 2020). Being confident in touching and being touched by people (i.e. touch exchange; TE) is part of exercising and sports, but for VI could be crucial in building self-efficacy in social settings, particularly from a Self-Determination Theory standpoint (Bandura, 2000; Deci & Ryan, 2011; McAuley et al., 2006).

Methodology

Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Braun et al., 2016), this study explored seven semi-structured interviews with VI (two women, five men, mean age 41, one heavily visually impaired, six completely blind) focusing on the influence of TE on confidence and exercising.

Results

Four overarching themes were produced: 1. Things don't exist unless I touch them; 2. In the right context, TE speaks volumes to human connections; 3. TE gives the freedom to become incrementally confident; 4. Sport and TE build confidence and can drag you away from dark places.

Conclusions

TE was confirmed as a valuable, trainable skill bridging human interactions and physical/psychological well-being against the many negative emotions often perceived by VI. Theoretical/practical implications on the development of new Touch Avoidance Scale Questionnaire (Ozolins & Sandberg, 2009) measuring TE confidence levels in future sport psychology interventions bespoke to VI were considered.

References

  • Alcaraz-Rodríguez, V., Medina-Rebollo, D., Muñoz-Llerena, A., & Fernández-Gavira, J. (2021). Influence of physical activity and sport on the inclusion of people with visual impairment: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 443. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010443
  • Bandura, A. (2000). Exercise of human agency through collective efficacy. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(3), 75–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00064
  • Braun, V., Clark, V., & Weate, P. (2016). Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In B. Smith & A. C. Sparkes (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (pp. 195–203). Routledge.
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2011). Self-Determination theory. In L. P. A. M. Van, A. W. Kruglanski, & E. T. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology. Sage.
  • Elsman, E. B. M., Koel, M., van Nispen, R. M. A., & van Rens, G. H. M. B. (2021). Quality of life and participation of children with visual impairment: Comparison with population reference scores. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 62(7), 14. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.62.7.14
  • Ilhan, B., Idil, A., & Ilhan, I. (2020). Sports participation and quality of life in individuals with visual impairment. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), 190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02285-5
  • Lieberman, L. J., Lepore, M., Lepore-Stevens, M., & Ball, L. (2018). Physical education for children with visual impairment or blindness. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 90(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2018.1535340
  • McAuley, E., Konopack, J. F., Motl, R. W., Morris, K. S., Doerksen, S. E., & Rosengren, K. R. (2006). Physical activity and quality of life in older adults: Influence of health status and self-efficacy. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 31(1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3101_14
  • Ozolins, A., & Sandberg, C. (2009). Development of a multifactor scale measuring the psychological dimensions of touch avoidance. International Journal of Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach, 3, 33–56. file:///C:/Users/m74al/Downloads/TAQ%20paper.pdf

Key words: visual impairment, self-efficacy, psychological well-being