Using a sample of 267 deaf adults, members of a stigmatized collective, this study tested three notions: (a) The ecological context in which group members live affects identification with their group; (b) group identification has a positive effect on members' self-esteem; and (c) several psychological mechanisms mediate between group identification and self-esteem. The first two notions received support. Family and school deafness were associated with group identification, which, in turn, had a positive effect on self-esteem both directly and through its moderating effect on the negative relationships between several variables and self-esteem. Data did not provide support, however, for the proposal that several variables mediate between group identification and self-esteem. Results highlight the importance of considering both the personal ecology of participants and their social-political context, as well as suggest revisions in theories on group identification and self-steem.
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