Parenting, perceived control, and symptoms of depression and anxiety in deaf youth

Deaf youth are at least six to eight times more likely to develop depression or anxiety compared to hearing youth. Decades of empirical evidence continue to suggest parent child-rearing practice and perceived control to be shared etiological factors for anxiety and depression in hearing youth. Deaf youth are at risk for lower perceived control and higher parental control compared to hearing youth. Despite evidence of heightened risk factors and poorer outcomes, associations between parenting, perceived control, and depression and anxiety have not been explored in deaf youth. The proposed quantitative study will explore these associations while controlling for age, sex, and additional disability. Results can inform appropriate intervention models for deaf youth.