Table 2 Confirmatory factor analysis: item statements and factor loadings (λs).

From: Internalized oppression and deaf people’s mental health

Item #

Statement (English translation from Polish)

Factor 1 Ableism

Factor 2 Audism

Factor 3 Linguicism

1.

Deaf individuals should learn various foreign languages—both spoken and signed languages

  

0.53

2.

The word “deaf” is neither positive nor negative; it is neutral

 

0.40

 

3.

A world without sound is valuable

 

0.27

 

4.

Sign languages and spoken languages have equal value

  

0.62

5.

In the education of deaf children, the greatest emphasis should be placed on bilingualism (spoken language and sign language)

  

0.42

6.

Disability makes disabled individuals less adaptable to life than able-bodied individuals

0.18

  

7.

Being deaf is neither negative nor positive

 

0.27

 

8.

In the education of deaf individuals, the greatest emphasis should be placed on learning to speak and lipread

  

0.60

9.

Deaf individuals should primarily use the Polish language

  

0.51

10.

Deaf individuals are disadvantaged by fate

 

0.57

 

11.

Disabled individuals are less intelligent than able-bodied individuals

0.76

  

12.

Everyone has the right to choose the language they want to use

  

0.66

13.

Learning sign language hinders the development of spoken language in deaf children

  

0.66

14.

Sign language is not a natural language like, for example, the Polish language

  

0.79

15.

Deaf individuals feel ashamed of their hearing levels

 

0.55

 

16.

People with disabilities can live a normal life in society despite their disability

0.67

  

17.

Teaching deaf children sign language is something negative

  

0.78

18.

Deaf individuals are equally capable as hearing individuals

 

0.71

 

19.

The term “disabled” is negative

0.22

  

20.

Every disabled person would want to regain their ability if they could

0.63

  

21.

Disabled individuals can be happy

0.51

  

22.

Deaf individuals have been excluded from the culture and language of the hearing society due to their lack of hearing–they need to be reintegrated into the hearing society

 

0.41

 

23.

Not every disabled person would want to regain their ability if they had the opportunity

0.44

  

24.

Deaf and hearing individuals use different languages and participate in different cultures

 

0.55

 

25.

Deaf individuals should only learn the dominant language of their country (e.g., Polish in Poland)

  

0.54

26.

Disabled individuals can live independently

0.35

  

27.

Sign language is inferior to spoken language

  

0.69

28.

Every deaf person would want to be able to hear if they had the opportunity

 

0.68

 

29.

There are disabled individuals who take pride in being disabled

0.59

  

30.

Being disabled is neither negative nor positive

0.46

  

31.

The world perceived by deaf individuals is less rich than the world perceived by hearing individuals

 

0.57

 

32.

Not every deaf person would want to be able to hear if they had the opportunity

 

0.16

 

33.

The world perceived by deaf individuals is rich and interesting, just like the world perceived by hearing individuals

 

0.37

 

34.

The term “disabled” is neither positive nor negative; it is neutral

0.32

  

35.

Disabled individuals are equally intelligent as able-bodied individuals

0.73

  

36.

The term “deaf” is negative

 

0.68

 

37.

Disabled individuals are disadvantaged by fate

0.44

  

38.

Sign language is a natural language, just like the Polish language

  

0.72

39.

Disabled individuals have the right to have and raise children

0.80

  

40.

Being disabled is something negative and unpleasant

0.62

  

41.

Sign languages (e.g., Polish Sign Language) have their own grammar that differs from the grammar of spoken languages (e.g., Polish)

  

0.70

42.

In schools for the deaf, lessons should be conducted in sign language

  

0.57

43.

Disabled individuals should not have or raise children

0.79

  

44.

Deaf individuals can be happy

 

0.68

 

45.

Deaf individuals are less capable than hearing individuals

 

0.68

.

46.

Efforts should be made to maximize the similarity of sign language to spoken language because sign language is a gestural version of the Polish language

  

0.62

47.

The teaching of language in schools for the deaf should be spoken language or speech supported by sign language

  

0.55

48.

Teaching sign language does not hinder the development of spoken language in deaf children

  

0.60

49.

Disabled individuals feel ashamed of their disability

0.59

  

50.

Teaching deaf children sign language is essential

  

0.51

51.

A world without sound is impoverished

 

0.52

 

52.

Being deaf is something negative

 

0.72

 

53.

There are deaf individuals who take pride in being deaf

 

0.71

 

54.

Individuals with disabilities are dependent on able-bodied individuals

0.15