Investigating Self-Stigma and its Impact on the Career Life of People with Visual Impairment: A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors
Erfan Rahimi 1
Somayeh Kazemian 2
Mahdi Zare-Bahramabadi 2
1 PhD Student, Department of Counselling, School of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Counselling, School of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
10.48305/jrrs.2026.45562.1120
Abstract
Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate factors related to self-stigmatization and its role in the career life of individuals with disabilities. Considering the detrimental consequences of self-stigma on the performance and quality of career life of individuals with disabilities, as well as the lack of domestic research that specifically addresses the role of this phenomenon in the work environment, conducting this study is of high necessity.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach. The target population included all individuals with visual impairment in Tehran City, Iran, in 2024, from whom 12 blind members of the Bahman Cultural Center were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Colaizzi method.
Results: After analyzing the interviews through coding, 126 primary codes, 56 subcategories, and 5 main categories were identified. Accordingly, the factors influencing self-stigmatization in individuals with disabilities included: personality traits, workplace conditions, employment conditions, cultural and social factors, and government policies and laws.
Conclusion: Self-stigmatization in individuals with disabilities can be a significant cause of reduced job performance and lower occupational quality in this group.

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