Comparison of the parents of children with and without hearing loss in terms of stress, depression, and trait anxiety

Abstract

It is hard to claim that the research about long term psychological effects on the parents of children with hearing loss have consistent results. In this sense, the purpose of the study was to compare the parents of children with (n=230) and without (n=230) hearing loss in terms of stress, depression, and trait anxiety symptoms. Assessment tools were Stress Self-Assessment Checklist for stress symptoms, Beck Depression Inventory for depressive symptomatology, and Trait Anxiety Inventory for the symptoms of trait anxiety. The findings of 2 (group) x 2 (sex) Analysis of Variance were in accordance with the assumption documented in the literature: Parents of children with hearing loss, especially the mothers, are at risk for developing psychiatric/psychological symptoms. The results of the research were discussed with a special emphasis on the contradictory findings in the literature and with respect to the social-cultural aspects of having a child with hearing loss. Possible causes of the difference between groups were also taken into account during discussion.