Announcing the Final Examination of Ms. Jenny L. Klein for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology.
Studies find children with disabilities are at high risk for several
forms of maltreatment, including abuse and neglect (Ammerman, Hersen,
Van Hasselt, Lubetsky, & Sieck, 1994; Sullivan & Knutson, 1998b), and
children with hearing and communication disorders comprise a substantial
portion of youth at risk (e.g., Sullivan & Knutson, 2000). For example,
some literature investigating the parenting practices of parents raising
children and adolescents with hearing and communication disorders
suggests that these parents have a tendency to use physically harsh
discipline practices (Knutson, Johnson, & Sullivan, 2004; Sullivan &
Knutson, 1998b). Further, high prevalence rates of emotional and
behavioral problems are documented in these youth (e.g., Greenberg &
Kusché, 1989; Hindley, 1997; Prizant, Audet, Burke, & Hummel, 1990).
Despite these findings, a limited amount of research focuses on
understanding factors related to these undesired outcomes. Therefore,
this study investigates the relationships among dimensions of parents’
psychological functioning and parent-child interactive processes in a
culturally diverse, national sample of families raising children and
adolescents with hearing and communication disorders.
Data was obtained from 76 primary caretakers (71 women and 5 men; M =
38.44, SD = 8.00, range = 23- to 66-years) who were recruited from a
variety of geographic locations and types of sites/settings (i.e., 6.6%
[n = 5] from clinical/private practices in the community, 32.9% [n = 25]
from clinical hearing/speech clinics associated with a university, 40.8%
[n = 31] from schools for children and adolescents who are Deaf and HOH,
13.2% [n = 10] from parent support groups, and 6.6% [n = 5] from a
summer camp). All participants were the self-declared primary
caregivers for one child or adolescent (34 girls and 42 boys) who ranged
in age from infancy to 17-years (M = 7.67-years, SD = 3.93-years) and
who experienced some measure of hearing impairment/loss and/or
significant communication difficulties.
Results suggest that parenting stress, depression, and anxiety as well
as parent-child communication and involvement are important correlates
of discipline practices and subsequent child behavior in families
raising children and adolescents with hearing and communication
disorders. Additionally, psychological aggression and parents’
depression are highly predictive factors in the use of corporal
punishment with youth who have hearing loss and/or communication
disorders. Also, psychological aggression and parenting stress are
highly predictive of reported youth behavior problems in these families.
The information gained from this investigation may provide direction
for assessment and therapeutic intervention with parents of children and
adolescents who have hearing and communication disorders.
Faculty and Staff 
Dissertation Defense: Predictors of Parental Discipline in Families Raising Youth with Hearing and Communication Difficulties
