ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AND COMPARISON OF SELF-EFFICACY AND CURIOSITY AMONG VISUALLY IMPAIRED PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: The objective of this study was to find out the relationship between self-efficacy (SE), Curiosity and Demographic variables among visually impaired (VI) patients, and to assess the difference on SE and Curiosity among VI patients from rural and urban areas. Method: This was a cross-sectional study. A sample of 100 visually impaired patients (50 males and 50 females) was selected through purposive sampling technique. General self-efficacy scale, and curiosity and exploration inventory were used to measure SE and curiosity among study participants. Pearson product moment correlation, regression analysis, and independent sample t-test were run for data analysis. Result: The results depicted a significant correlation among curiosity, self-efficacy, gender, age, residence area, socioeconomic status (SES), and visual impairment. Regression analyses for patients of VI showed that curiosity and residence were important predictor of SE. The patients living in urban areas had a significantly high level of SE and curiosity as compared to those living in rural areas. Conclusion: Curiosity, SE, demographic variables and VI are associated with each other. SE can be predicted by curiosity and residence in patients with VI. Significant differences exist in VI patients in SE and curiosity with reference to their areas of residence. Pak J Physiol 2022;18(3):35?8