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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.
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]
Copyright of Journal of Deaf Studies & Deaf Education is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Exploring sign language, social connectedness, and life satisfaction of deaf adults.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Deaf+Studies+%26+Deaf+Education%22">Journal of Deaf Studies & Deaf Education</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 31 Issue 3, p471-481. 11p.
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  Data: 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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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Deaf Studies & Deaf Education is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=195186209
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1093/jdsade/enaf087
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 471
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Group identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mainstreaming in special education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitude (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quality of life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health promotion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discrimination (Sociology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sign language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adults
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deafness & psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deaf culture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Satisfaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological distress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sadness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anger
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social context
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hard of hearing people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-perception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Exploring sign language, social connectedness, and life satisfaction of deaf adults.
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            NameFull: Radford, Angela
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            NameFull: Bignell, Simon
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            NameFull: Barker, Alex B
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            NameFull: Hamilton, Ian S
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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