ERIC Number: EJ1266618
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1034-912X
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Available Date: N/A
Are You Seeing Him/Her? Mate Choice in Visually Impaired and Blind People
Fekler, Or; Bokek-Cohen, Ya'Arit; Braw, Yoram
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, v67 n5 p467-483 2020
We examined whether individuals who are VI (visually impaired; people with low vision or totally blind) choose their romantic partners differently than those who are sighted. The theoretical framework that informed our inquiry is Social Exchange Theory. Fifty-five participants who are VI and fifty-one participants who are sighted were administered mate preference and marital satisfaction questionnaires. Participants who are VI also answered open-ended questions regarding difficulties in finding a suitable mate. Participants who are VI did not significantly differ from participants who are sighted in their rated importance of traits of an ideal romantic partner, as well as their relationship satisfaction. No tradeoff of resources among participants who are VI and their partners was found, i.e. they did not "pay" for their disability by coupling with a partner who has a lower socio-economic status than theirs. Participants who were VI told about their main difficulties in finding a mate and offered proposals to mitigate these difficulties. We conclude by proposing ways to help individuals who are VI to establish intimate relationships.
Descriptors: Visual Impairments, Blindness, Intimacy, Interpersonal Relationship, Marital Satisfaction, Decision Making, Individual Characteristics, Foreign Countries, Adults, Barriers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Identifiers - Location: Israel
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