Examination of a Scale Assessing Attitudes towards Individuals with Intellectual Disability in China

Abstract

This study examined the applicability of the four-factor structure of the short form of the Community Living Attitudes Scale-Intellectual Disability11 We chose to use the term “intellectual disability” to replace the term “mental retardation” in the original CLAS-MR scale to conform with the terminology in current usage. (CLAS-ID) in China, using a sample of 325 Chinese community members. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the original structure of the short form of the CLAS-ID did not adequately fit the data from the current sample. Most items of the Exclusion and Similarity subscales were retained while items on the Empowerment and Sheltering subscales were removed. Chinese community members held generally positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disability. However, a measurement tool originating from the Chinese context is needed to provide a better understanding of attitudes towards individuals with intellectual disability in mainland China.