Randomized trial of a resilience intervention on resilience, behavioral strengths and difficulties of mainstreamed adolescent students with hearing loss.

Objectives: Adolescents with hearing loss have shown emotional and behavioral difficulties. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a resilience-focused intervention on resilience, behavioral strengths, and difficulties of mainstreamed adolescent students with hearing loss.

Methods: In this experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, follow up, and control group design, a total number of 122 students with hearing loss, were randomly assigned to two equal groups. The intervention group received training in small groups of 3-5 self-contained classes for six weeks (two times per week for 75 min). The "Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale" and the "self-report version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)" were used to measure the resilience and the positive and negative behavioral attributes of participants prior to intervention, then repeat of 6 and 14 weeks later. The scores were compared between intervention and control groups using the Mann-Whitney Test.

Results: After the intervention, the resilience scores in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (U = 831, p < .001). Also, the SDQ score in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (U = 634, (p < .001). Negative behavioral attributes (total SDQ scores, and sub-scales scores of hyperactivity, emotional, conduct, and peer problems) were decreased, and prosocial behavior was increased significantly in the intervention group (p < .001). All of the differences remained through follow-up measurement except for the subscale of conduct problems.

Conclusion: The twelve sessions of resilience-focused intervention led to a marked increase in resilience. It also is effective in decreasing the behavioral difficulties of adolescents with hearing loss and is suggested to apply for students with hearing impairment integrated into middle schools.