title: The relationship among frequency and type of internet use, perceived social support, and sense of well-being in individuals with visual impairments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship among amount and type of internet use and perceived social support and subjective well-being in persons with visual impairments.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-five participants were recruited through a letter sent out over 46 national and state listservs for persons with visual impairments and blindness. The mean age of participants was 46.7 years (SD = 13.3), and 50.9% were women. The participants completed a survey containing a demographic questionnaire, an internet use questionnaire, the personal resources questionnaire - 2000 (PRQ-2000), and the sense of well-being inventory (SWBI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequency and type of internet use was not significantly related to perceived social support in persons with visual impairments. There was a marginally significant positive association between internet use and overall sense of well-being. Specifically, online chat had a positive association with social support and well-being. Disability-related information seeking and participation in online support groups were negatively associated with well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the mixed results of this study, the internet has potential practical implications for increasing the independence and social connectedness in persons with visual impairments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA. smiller@fsu.edu
authors.forename: Susan Miller
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smedema
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: McKenzie
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000523:psychology*