Social networks and psychosocial development: A longitudinal Dutch study

Unique longitudinal results are described from a national scientific study into social networks and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents and young adults who are blind or partially sighted. In this Dutch community-based study the first sample of participants are interviewed twice: the first time (1996) when they were adolescents (N = 316), the second time 8 years later, when they were young adults (N = 206). The second sample of adolescents is interviewed once in 2004 (N = 155). Preliminary findings suggest an improvement in psychosocial adjustment into the transition in young adulthood. A replication of earlier findings with adolescents was found in the sample 2 adolescents, meaning relatively small networks and a rather positive outcome for psychosocial indicators.