Publication Date
2011
Document Type
Dissertation
Committee Members
Leon Vandecreek (Committee Member), Julie Williams (Committee Chair), Betty Yung (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine sexuality in persons who are deaf. Specifically, it examined group identification and sexual esteem, sexual satisfaction, and sexual preoccupation. Deafness was viewed in this study as not only a level of hearing loss, but as a source of identity and culture. While varying levels of group identification are well defined in the literature, it is unclear as to how this impacts the individual's experience. Analysis of the current sample (N = 68) suggested that there was a slight difference in sexual esteem between subjects who identified as Bicultural, Immersed, Marginalized, and Hearing. Individuals who are Immersed or Bicultural were more likely to report feeling better sexually; view themselves as sexual beings, and confidence in their sex life. Regression models were considered building on the observed bivariate correlations for Bicultural and Immersed identity and Sexual Esteem to determine the most significant factors related to sexual esteem. Among participants who identified as Bicultural, associations held for the Sexual Esteem of the individual when Age, Education, and Immersed identity score were controlled for. There were no differences in the level of sexual depression and preoccupation between participants.
Page Count
59
Department or Program
School of Professional Psychology
Year Degree Awarded
2012
Copyright
Copyright 2011, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
