Family functioning and the social adaptation of hearing-impaired youths

This study examined the associations between important aspects of family functioning and the adjustment of hearing-impaired youths. Participants were 75 hearing-impaired youths and their hearing parents. The dependent variables were mothers\u27 and fathers\u27 ratings of child behavior problems and social competence. Independent variables included parental symptomatology, parental ratings of family stress, and family members\u27 perceptions of family cohesion and family adaptability. Demographic characteristics and the youth\u27s degree of hearing loss and mode of communication were used as control variables. Results from multiple regression analyses showed that parental ratings of the youths\u27 behavior problems were linked with parental symptomatology, and that maternal ratings of the youths\u27 behavior problems were associated with low family adaptability. Parental ratings of the youths\u27 social competence were predicted by family stress. Overall, key aspects of family functioning accounted for considerably more variance than did the control variables. The methodological and conceptual implications of the findings are discussed. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation