Exploring sign language, social connectedness, and life satisfaction of deaf adults.
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| Title: | Exploring sign language, social connectedness, and life satisfaction of deaf adults. |
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| Authors: | Radford, Angela1 (AUTHOR), Bignell, Simon1 (AUTHOR), Barker, Alex B1 (AUTHOR), Hamilton, Ian S2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Deaf Studies & Deaf Education. Jul2026, Vol. 31 Issue 3, p471-481. 11p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Qualitative research, *Group identity, *Mainstreaming in special education, *Attitude (Psychology), *Research methodology, *Quality of life, *Communication, *Interpersonal relations, *Health promotion, *Discrimination (Sociology), *Sign language, *Adults, Deafness & psychology, Deaf culture, Satisfaction, Self-efficacy, Psychological distress, Sadness, Interviewing, Questionnaires, Anger, Psychological well-being, Thematic analysis, Social context, Social support, Phenomenology, Hard of hearing people, Social participation, Self-perception |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| Abstract: | This study explored how sign language use and social connectedness influenced the life satisfaction of twelve British Deaf community members (n = 12, m = 2, f = 10, aged 23–79). During in-person and remote interviews, participants compared experiences of sign language use and social connectedness with experiences of spoken language and exclusion. Reflexive thematic analysis generated two main themes. (1) Gaining Deafness: which explored how sign language use and social connectedness created positive perceptions of deafness, enabling authenticity and agency. (2) Empowering Deaf pride: which examined how feeling connected to sign language and Deaf culture produced Deaf pride and self-advocacy, empowering participants. These findings support the implementation of sign language in early education for all children. The findings call for the social reconstruction of deafness, and for deaf-led development of inclusive definitions and terminology. This research provides new qualitative evidence on how sign language and Deaf cultural connectedness enhance the life satisfaction of Deaf adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | This study explored how sign language use and social connectedness influenced the life satisfaction of twelve British Deaf community members (n = 12, m = 2, f = 10, aged 23–79). During in-person and remote interviews, participants compared experiences of sign language use and social connectedness with experiences of spoken language and exclusion. Reflexive thematic analysis generated two main themes. (1) Gaining Deafness: which explored how sign language use and social connectedness created positive perceptions of deafness, enabling authenticity and agency. (2) Empowering Deaf pride: which examined how feeling connected to sign language and Deaf culture produced Deaf pride and self-advocacy, empowering participants. These findings support the implementation of sign language in early education for all children. The findings call for the social reconstruction of deafness, and for deaf-led development of inclusive definitions and terminology. This research provides new qualitative evidence on how sign language and Deaf cultural connectedness enhance the life satisfaction of Deaf adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10814159 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/jdsade/enaf087 |
