Communication anxiety and signing effectiveness: Testing an interference model among deaf communicators

Abstract

Research reported here investigates the link between trait communication anxiety and communication behavior in a unique and under‐studied population, hearing‐impaired individuals. Four different samples of deaf high school students at three separate schools completed measures of self‐reported communication anxiety. Observations and ratings of student signing behavior were provided by teachers of those students. Results indicated moderate to large effects for the trait on signing behaviors such as speed of signing, intensity, size, clarity, and overall effectiveness. Trait anxiety scores were also relatively stable over time, and average scores were lower than those of hearing communicators.