Use of Stress Coping Strategies among Students with Hearing Impairment: A Gendered-Comparative Study

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to identify coping strategies used by males and females with hearing impairment to deal with stress. A causal-comparative study was conducted with a purposive sample of 165 students. Religious coping, positive reinterpretation, and planning were the most common strategies. Females used religious coping more than males, while males used substance use more than females. There was a significant gender difference in the use of problem-focused strategies but not emotion-focused strategies. Age was positively correlated with religious coping, indicating older students used it more. No relationship was found between age and the use of emotion-focused or problem-focused strategies. No significant difference was found in strategy use based on student qualification. This study has implications for students with disabilities, parents, and teachers.