Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ψυχική Υγεία Παιδιών και ΕφήβωνLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Daskalaki Angeliki
Supervisors info:
Γεράσιμος Κολαΐτης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Χαράλαμπος Παπαγεωργίου, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βασιλική Μπενέτου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Το Αίσθημα της Μοναξιάς σε Κωφά και Βαρήκοα Παιδιά και Εφήβους
Translated title:
The Feeling of Loneliness in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Adolescents
Summary:
Background. Deaf and hard of hearing children and adolescents may be experiencing increased levels of loneliness. Aim. The goal of this particular study, is to examine the feeling of loneliness among children and adolescents that are deaf/hard of hearing. Also, to examine the effect of the school and family environment as well as the intensity of their impairment, whether they have been through treatment (surgical or otherwise) or have cochlear implants as indicators of increased levels of loneliness. Methods. Children and adolescents 11 to 17 years old (N=52) participated in this study. Amongst them, deaf (N=30) and hard of hearing individuals (N=22). Most of the hard of hearing participants (N=21) have a cochlear implant and a few of the deaf participants have been through some form of surgery or treatment, related to their hearing disability (N=5). Furthermore, some attend mainstream schools (N=7) and the rest special schools for the deaf and hard of hearing (N=45). Also, a significant amount of them are not the only family member with hearing problems (N=34). Lastly, all of the parents were given the chance to participate, however due to issues that are described in more detail further, only some of them did (N=20). The children and adolescents who participated, completed the Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The parents who took part in this research, completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results. The difficulties parents believe their children face strongly affect the levels of loneliness reported by the children at a statistically significant level (p=.05). No statistically significant connection was proven between the reported loneliness levels and the type of school which participants attend, the intensity of their impairment, the treatments they have undergone and the cochlear implant. Notwithstanding the significance the parents’ perception of the difficulties their children face holds, we were unable to prove that the family environment is a strong indicator for or against elevated levels of loneliness. Conclusions. The way parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and adolescents perceive the difficulties their children face, significantly affect their reported levels of loneliness. Therefore, fully understanding one’s child’s daily obstacles combined with a much-needed support system in the family act as a protective factor against loneliness.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Feeling of Loneliness, Children, Adolescents, Deaf, Hard of Hearing
