18th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 3-5, 2019 • Chicago, IL
Parents’ Use of ASL Predicts Well-being and Cultural Identity Development: A Quantitative Study of Emerging Adults Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Previous research has identified various personal, family, and educational variables that influence the psychosocial development of deaf and hard of hearing individuals (Bat-Chava, 2000; Chen, 2014). The present investigation explores how parents’ use of American Sign Language (ASL) predicts cultural identity development and well-being.
Online surveys were completed by emerging adults (N=431; Mage=21.6) who identified as deaf or hard of hearing (ranging from mild to profound hearing loss). Fifty percent reported using hearing aid(s); 6% cochlear implants. To quantify parents’ use of ASL, participants used a 5-point Likert scale (1= not at all true; 5=very much true) to indicate how true the following statement was during their childhood: “My parent(s) used American Sign Language with me.” Cultural identity was assessed with the Deaf Acculturation Scale (DAS; Maxwell-McCaw & Zea, 2011), which measures several aspects of both Deaf and Hearing cultural identities. Well-being was measured with the Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1989), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (depression and anxiety scale; Kroenke, Spitzer, Williams, & Löwe, 2009).
Linear regression analyses indicate the degree to which parents used ASL with their child positively predicted scores across each DAS subscale related to Deaf culture and, surprisingly, most subscales related to Hearing culture. Parents’ use of ASL predicted self-esteem (B=1.44, t=3.006, p=.003) and satisfaction-with-life (B=.329, t=7.201, p=.000), but did not predict anxiety/depression (B=.068, t=1.415, p=.158, n.s.). Hierarchical regressions indicate that parents’ use of ASL remains a significant predictor of most psychosocial outcomes after controlling for degree of hearing loss, hearing device used, type of school attended, and parents’ hearing status.
Given the significance of parents’ use of ASL across psychosocial outcomes, early hearing loss intervention programming should include education, resources, and advocacy promoting and supporting parental signing.
- Identify the predictive relationship between parents' use of ASL and well-being.
- Identify the predictive relationship of parents' use of ASL and cultural identity development.
- Explore the significance of parents' use of ASL after controlling for other family, education, and hearing-related variables.
Poster:
18878_10276MacraeHusting.pdf
Presenter: Macrae Husting
Macrae Husting is a PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee in the Educational Psychology- Learning and Development Program. Her dissertation is underway and looks at the role and impact of parents as socialization agents in the cultural identity development and well-being of emerging adults who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Dr. Jacqueline Nguyen is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee's Educational Psychology- Learning and Development department. Dissertation chair for the submitted work by Macrae Husting.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -