Mate selection barriers, facilitators, and strategies in visually impaired males: A multi-stakeholder perspective

Mate selection is one of the most crucial decisions an individual makes in their lifetime, which can bring social, economic, and emotional benefits to their life partner. Exposure to negative attitudes from family members and significant people can lead to the internalization of negative self-esteem in visually impaired people and restrict their social activities and mate selection. To this end, this study sought to investigate mate selection barriers, facilitators, and strategies from the perspective of visually impaired men (beneficiaries), specialists of the welfare department (experts), and managers (authorities). This study was conducted using a qualitative and grounded theory approach. The research sample was selected using purposive sampling in 2023 in Arak, Markazi Province, Iran. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the participants. The participants in this study were visually impaired men (beneficiaries) who were members of the Blind Association and were supported by the welfare department, the specialists of the welfare department (experts), and managers (authorities). Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 17 visually impaired men, 8 experts, and 8 authorities. The collected data were analyzed using the method by Corbin and Strauss. The data analysis revealed mate selection barriers, facilitators, and strategies through 10 axial codes: poor economic conditions (causal condition), unbalanced and disturbed relationships with others and feelings of isolation and social exclusion (intervening conditions), provision of supportive facilities and hesitation in choosing a partner (strategies), endless fear of the future marital life, lack of financial and support resources, lack of adaptability of the environment, individual and social empowerment (contextual conditions), and the tendency to develop independence (mate selection consequence). Finally, a paradigmatic model was developed. The economic and financial conditions play an important role in mate selection. In the Iranian community with high inflation and unemployment rates, healthy people who do not have any physical problems like disabilities do not dare to choose a partner. Thus, visually impaired people face substantial challenges when planning for marriage. Given the restrictions associated with visual impairment (VI) and the negative public attitudes about the marriage of visually impaired people, providing training to families and educating them on how to treat visually impaired individuals can play a vital role in enhancing the self-esteem of these individuals. Besides, raising public awareness about the marital issues faced by visually impaired individuals and planning to create employment opportunities can help these individuals in the mate selection process.