A study on stress and resilience among hearing-impaired people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim The aim of the study is to determine the acute stress and psychological resilience level of people with hearing impairment during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the relationship between the grade of hearing impairment, psychological resilience and perceived stress level in this period. Methods A cross-sectional study. A total of 135 hearing-impaired individuals using hearing aids (study group) and 125 healthy individuals (control group) participated. The Turkish versions of the Acute Stress Symptoms Scale (ASSS) and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) were applied to all participants. The Turkish version of Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (T-AIADH) was also applied to the study group in addition to other scales. The presence of any difference between the groups in terms of ASSS and BRS scores was investigated. Results There was a statistically significant difference between the control group and the study group in terms of ASSS results (Z = -4.4, P = .00). No statistically significant difference was found between the control group and the study group in terms of BRS scores (Z = -0.248, P = .804). Furthermore, T-AIADH scale was observed not to correlate either with ASSS or BRS (P > .05). In the study group, the change in income level after the pandemic, age and sex variables were determined as a significant predictor of ASSS. Conclusion Identifying risks and protective factors for hearing-impaired individuals at the early stage of the epidemic is considered to be of critical importance to predict the psychological impact of both the epidemic and the response to the COVID-19 health crisis and to reduce stress.