Loneliness and Social Isolation in the Work Place for Deaf Individuals During the Transition Years: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

This study is a first attempt to examine the experience of loneliness and social isolation for young adults who are deaf. It was hypothesized that these factors play a significant role in job retention and effective workplace functioning for individuals who are deaf or who have special communication needs and that social integration difficulties could result in poor vocational and psychological outcomes. This study found that communication barriers in the workplace create social difficulties and affect the performance of people who are deaf. Strategies utilized for coping with isolation and for improving integration into the workplace are described and recommendations for future research and intervention with deaf youth are offered.