Self-esteem and coping strategies among deaf students.
Research studies on the determinants of self-esteem of deaf individuals often yield inconsistent findings. The current study assessed the effects on self-esteem of factors related to deafness, such as the means of communication at home and severity of hearing loss with hearing aid, as well as the coping styles that deaf people adopt to cope with everyday life in a hearing world. Data were collected among the deaf students of California State University, Northridge. Hierarchical regression modeling showed that identification with the Deaf community significantly contributed to positive self-esteem. Results also revealed that deaf students with greater degree of hearing loss and with bicultural skills that help them function in both the hearing and the Deaf community generally have higher self-esteem. Implications for further study are discussed.
Jambor
Edina
E
Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Program, Mail Stop 300, University of Nevada, Reno 89557, USA. jambor@unr.nevada.edu
Elliott
Marta
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003142:Communication; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012813:Sign Language; D012933:Social Identification; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires