Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly risky for people with disabilities and severe medical conditions, not only because the virus may be a direct threat to their physical health but also because of social exclusion and negating their needs and rights.Objective: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of people from different age groups towards people with intellectual disability (ID).Methods: The study included 223 people (19–85 years old) and was conducted in May 2020–January 2021. Data was collected using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Towards Persons With Disabilities and a self-designed Questionnaire regarding the attitudes towards people with ID during the pandemic. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 (ANOVA).Results: The results of the study showed that the general attitudes were only slightly supportive and differed among people of different age groups: the youngest and the oldest generation expressed the most positive attitudes while the adults (35–60 y.o.) expressed the most negative ones.Conclusions: As the pandemic is spreading rapidly with no definitive solution, awareness to create more positive attitudes towards people with ID and recognizing their needs is essential.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult for the most vulnerable members of society – people with disabilities, the elderly, and those with severe medical conditions
The results showed significant differences between the age groups concerning attitudes towards people with intellectual disability (ID): attitudes of adults (35–60 years) were significantly more positive in the emotional aspect than those of the young adults (35–60 years; p < 0.05) and more positive in the cognitive aspects than these of the elderly participants (p < 0.05, Table 1)
When the oldest respondents were asked about their experience with people with ID, they mostly reported feelings of shame, distress, or guilt
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has been risky for people with disabilities and severe medical conditions, because the virus may be a direct threat to their physical health and because of social exclusion and negating their needs and rights
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