title: Understanding the psychosocial experiences of adults with mild-moderate hearing loss: An application of Leventhal's self-regulatory model.
abstract: This study explored the psychosocial experiences of adults with hearing loss using the self-regulatory model as a theoretical framework. The primary components of the model, namely cognitive representations, emotional representations, and coping responses, were examined.
  
  
  
  Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using an established thematic analysis procedure.
  
  
  
  Twenty-five adults with mild-moderate hearing loss from the UK and nine hearing healthcare professionals from the UK, USA, and Canada were recruited via maximum variation sampling.
  
  
  
  Cognitive representations: Most participants described their hearing loss as having negative connotations and consequences, although they were not particularly concerned about the progression or controllability/curability of the condition. Opinions differed regarding the benefits of understanding the causes of one's hearing loss in detail. Emotional representations: negative emotions dominated, although some experienced positive emotions or muted emotions. Coping responses: engaged coping (e.g. hearing aids, communication tactics) and disengaged coping (e.g. withdrawal from situations, withdrawal within situations): both had perceived advantages and disadvantages.
  
  
  
  This novel application of the self-regulatory model demonstrates that it can be used to capture the key psychosocial experiences (i.e. perceptions, emotions, and coping responses) of adults with mild-moderate hearing loss within a single, unifying framework.
authors.affiliation: a National Institute of Health Research, Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit , Nottingham , UK .|b Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience , School of Medicine, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK .
authors.forename: Eithne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.affiliation: c Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing , School of Medicine, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK .
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Coulson
authors.affiliation: a National Institute of Health Research, Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit , Nottingham , UK .|b Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience , School of Medicine, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK .
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henshaw
authors.affiliation: d Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research , Nottingham , UK , and.
authors.forename: Johanna G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: a National Institute of Health Research, Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit , Nottingham , UK .|b Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience , School of Medicine, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK .|e Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust , Nottingham , UK.
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003071:Cognition; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D000068356:Self-Control; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hearing loss; Leventhal’s self-regulatory model; common sense model; illness representations; psychosocial impact; qualitative research