Stigma and mental health among deaf and hard of hearing adults: The moderating role of social support

Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) individuals constitute 4.5% of the total population in Turkey. They experience challenges in integrating into society, along with stigma and discrimination. Studies document that they have limited access to healthcare services and are at higher risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The current study focuses on that vulnerable group and examines the association between stigma, perceived social support, and mental health outcomes. Data were collected through social network platforms, DHH associations, and word of mouth. The study was conducted with Turkish adults (18-65 years old) who had either total or partial hearing loss and/or used hearing assistance devices or Turkish Sign Language (TSL). Participants were provided with three online study participation options including survey written in Turkish, written in simplified Turkish (parallel with TSL), or videotaped TSL with subtitles. The final sample included 97 participants (68% female; 51% DHH since birth; Meanage= 32.75; SDage= 9.86). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that higher levels of experienced stigma was associated with increased levels of self-reported anxiety, but not depression. Internalized stigma and age were robust predictors of anxiety symptoms, suggesting that DHH individuals who were younger and self-stigmatized reported more anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, perceived social support and internalized stigma were independently linked to depressive symptoms, but did not interact with one another. Findings suggest the need to focus on internalized stigma as a risk factor for DHH individuals' mental health.