Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals report having an increased difficulty in maintaining baseline mental wellbeing when compared to the hearing population (Kushalnagar et al., 2019; Zazove et al., 2006). Psychosocial adjustment refers to any shift in stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness that signifies a decline in mental health as a result from interpersonal interactions, life events, the environment, and/or society. The current public health threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in psychosocial adjustment needed to cope with general stress, insecurity, and uncertain experiences surrounding news, information, and social ramifications of the virus across the world (Bakioğlu et al., 2021; Lin, 2020). DHH people have had to face particularly difficult psychosocially adjusting experiences during the pandemic due to almost every factor listed above. The three major ways the pandemic has impacted the DHH community are through social isolation, access to language communication, and increased health risk. This study investigates how DHH people have been psychosocially affected by the pandemic given the combination of increased susceptibility of baseline mental health struggles and the toll a global public health crisis has on underrepresented populations. The overarching research question is: was there an increase in negative psychosocial experiences for DHH people due to the onset of the pandemic? A short minute online qualitative mixed method bilingual survey (American Sign Language (ASL) and English) was distributed to 9 DHH students from Gallaudet University. The sample consisted of individuals who ranged between the ages of 18 and 31 (Mean = 25.4, SD = 4.85). The sample identified as 88.8% (8 out of 9 respondents) culturally Deaf and the remaining participant was Hard of Hearing (HoH). The online survey included 10 open ended-questions about DHH identity experiences during the pandemic, 11 demographic characteristic questions about language preference and upbringing, 14 questions related to how hearing loss has affected psychosocial adjustment during COVID-19, and 8 well-being questions on a Likert scale. The results of a Reflexive Thematic Analysis were derived from open-ended survey questions. Three prevalent themes were found from which each built on one another: 1) increased difficulty in communication due to masked interactions, 2) impossible encounters: mask removal for communication poses risk of COVID-19 exposure, 3) the negative stress-impact of COVID-19. The themes constructed from the thematic analysis catalyzed and further explained the correlations derived from quantitative data aim. Correlation analyses illustrated the following results: 1) more difficulty with masked communication was positively correlated with greater shifts in stress from before the pandemic versus while during 2) more difficulty with masked communication was positively correlated with more experiences with society being exclusive to DHH individuals 3) experiences of DHH exclusion during the pandemic was positively correlated with more anxiety about the risks of contracting the virus 4) an increase in stress during the pandemic was positively correlated with less ability to connect with other DHH people 5) an increase ASL deprivation as a result from physical social distancing was positively correlated with an increase in inaccessible technology virtually. The goal of the research study was to communicate DHH experiences to policy makers, doctors, mental health professionals, and the greater hearing public to mobilize change and resist complacency in DHH culture, experience, and advocacy. When combining the qualitative and quantitative results we can conclude that the DHH community has endured more negative experiences that are associated with psychosocial adjustment during the course of the pandemic. The results of the study suggest mask use reduces language accessibility in ASL, increases stress, and limits social interaction and inclusion for the DHH community.COVID-19 protocol has increased stress and personal negative psychosocial experiences exacerbated by exclusion and COVID-19 anxiety. Finally, DHH people have experienced language inaccessibility both in person and virtually due to the shortcomings of technology. Overall, this study, and related research that centers the experiences of the DHH community, illustrate important inequities in the experience of the pandemic. Committing to repairing these injustices is an essential priority for creating a more just and equitable world for DHH individuals.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["COVID-19","Psychosocial adjustment","Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH)"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 23591