Disability Attitudes Research Articles

Implicit Association Tests of Attitudes Toward Persons With Disabilities

The authors assessed 3 of the currently available implicit association tests designed to measure attitudes toward persons with disabilities. The Revised Multiple Disability Implicit Association Test, the Implicit Association Test for Attitudes Toward Athletes With Disabilities, and the Disability Attitude Implicit Association Test were related to each other, demonstrating some consistency in measurement. They were mostly unrelated, however, to more traditional, explicit measures of attitudes toward persons with disabilities. In addition, although the implicit association tests were not related to socially desirable responding, the most psychometrically sound explicit measure (The Interaction With Disabled Persons Scale) was related to socially desirable responding.

The analysis of the relation of pre-service teachers' direct and indirect disability experience on disability awareness and attitude in inclusive education

The analysis of the relation of pre-service teachers' direct and indirect disability experience on disability awareness and attitude in inclusive education

A Path to Greater Inclusivity Through Understanding Implicit Attitudes Toward Disability

Individuals with visible disabilities are underrepresented in nursing and have been denied admission to nursing education and discriminated against based on their disability, although nurse educators have been found to hold positive explicit attitudes toward disabled individuals. This study examines nurse educators' implicitly held attitudes toward individuals with disabilities through the use of the Disability Attitude Implicit Association Test. Findings demonstrated that nurse educators are strongly biased toward individuals without disabilities (N = 132, D = 0.76, SD = 0.46) and demonstrated a stronger preference than the general population (N = 38,544, D = 0.45, SD = 0.43). Study results suggest the need for a timely critique of the continuing focus on physical abilities as a prerequisite for admission to nursing programs. In addition, faculty in schools of nursing and practicing nurses must engage in discussions of attitudes toward individuals with visible disabilities for the discipline to be more inclusive.

Disability Attitudes in Health Care

The aims of this study were to develop and validate an instrument measuring attitudes toward providing health care to patients with disability, to compare the attitudes of preclinical and clinical medical students, and to examine whether sex, a background in disability, or career interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation affect medical student attitudes toward working with patients with disability. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an academic medical center with participants that included preclinical (n = 63) and clinical medical (n = 58) students, physical medicine and rehabilitation residents (n = 18), and internal medicine residents (n = 10). A 17-item Disability Attitudes in Health Care scale was developed based on existing, validated geriatrics attitudes scales. Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Form O scale was used for correlation testing. Background demographic data collected from medical student respondents included sex, previous personal or work experience with disability, and career interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The new scale demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach α = 0.74) and criterion validity (correlation coefficient = 0.54 with the Attitude Towards Disabled Persons scale). Attitudes were no different between preclinical and clinical medical students. Male medical students had more negative attitudes than female students did (P = 0.03). Students with a higher level of career interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation scored higher than less interested students did (P = 0.015). The new Disability Attitudes in Health Care scale developed in this study shows good internal consistency and criterion validity. Attitudes toward caring for patients with disability seem to be unrelated to the standard medical education curriculum or previous experience with disability. Specific educational experiences may be designed to engender more positive attitudes toward providing health care to this patient population.

Immediate and follow-up effects of a brief disability curriculum on disability knowledge and attitudes of PM&R residents: A comparison group trial

Background: Humanistic attitudes are essential in physicians and therefore supporting them is a key component in graduate medical education (GME). The importance of a physician's attitude toward people with disability is especially relevant within the rehabilitation discipline, as prevailing attitudes and misconceptions can be potential barriers to successful diagnosis and treatment.Aim: This study was designed to examine the relationship between participation in a brief disability sensitivity training and knowledge of disability and attitudes of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residents toward people with disability.Methods: A daylong training for residents consisted of lectures and a panel presentation that covered (1) disability facts, (2) personal stories of people with disabilities, and (3) medical evaluation of disability. The presentations were followed by a simulation experience where resident pairs (one assigned to a wheel chair, the other a “caretaker”) performed various tasks. This was followed by a group discussion of their experience. Three instruments were administered prior to the training: (1) a brief demographic questionnaire, (2) 30 multiple choice questions measuring various aspects of knowledge about disability, and (3) the Scale of Attitudes toward Disabled Persons, Form R (SADP). After the training experience, the knowledge instrument and the SADP were re-administered along with a series of items to measure various aspects of students’ satisfaction with the training. The three instruments described were re-administered 3 months post-training.Results: There was significant immediate gain in both the disability knowledge and the attitude scores among trainees as compared to a control group of physiatry residents in standard medical training. Knowledge gains of the disability sensitivity training group did not persist, but attitude toward disability gains remained at the 3 months follow up.Conclusion: After a brief curriculum in disability knowledge and sensitivity for PM&R physicians in training, there was a short-term improvement in disability knowledge and an improvement in disability attitudes sustained at 3 months.

Employee Retention and Integrated Disability Management Practices as Demand Side Factors

Demand-side employment research on company policies and practices related to retention and absence and disability management (ADM) can contribute to our understanding of employment issues related to people with disabilities from the employers' perspective. To examine company ADM and retention practices and their effectiveness, as well as how these company policies and practices might influence hiring of people with disabilities. Disability Management Employer Coalition employer members (N = 650) were surveyed by internet and the survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression. Ninety-five participants responded to the survey resulting in a response rate of 14%. Retention practice was found to be associated with retention effectiveness (r = .39, P < .01). Items most highly correlated with retention effectiveness address the provision of development opportunities to employees at every level, seeking the ideas and involvement of employees, and assuring they know how their work and performance support the mission. ADM practice was related to improving health and managing health conditions (r = .26, P < .05) and resolving disability and bringing back to work (r = .37, P < .01). Consistent RTW procedures (r = .21), employee-oriented culture (r = .23), safety/risk prevention (r = .21), and very early intervention (r = .21) correlated with delaying/preventing employment exits related to health impairment. Retention practice, ADM practice, retention effectiveness, ADM effectiveness and disability attitudes comprised a model to predict the hiring of people with disabilities. The six-predictor model was significant, F(6, 86) = 13.54, P < .001 and accounted for 49% of the variance in hiring. However, only the disability attitudes factor (β = .628, P < .001) was found to be significantly associated with hiring. Findings substantiate a positive relationship among retention practices, ADM practices and outcomes. Both are associated with retaining employees who develop potentially disabling conditions; but they are not directly connected to hiring people with disabilities. These appear to be two different policy and practice issues within most companies.

Correlates of Genetic Counseling and Testing Among Orthodox Jews

One hundred and thirty-six Orthodox Jews responded to questions about their family background, disability attitudes, and their participation in genetic counseling and testing. Findings showed that only birth order and the presence of a disabled family member correlated with increased chances of an individual going for genetic counseling/testing. Results are discussed in the context of the contemporary sociology of Orthodox Judaism, with a particular focus on better understanding the experience of having a disabled family member.

The Relationship between Acceptance Disability and Exercise Attitudes of Students with Physical Disabilities

The Relationship between Acceptance Disability and Exercise Attitudes of Students with Physical Disabilities

Disability and work-related attitudes in employers from Beijing, Chicago, and Hong Kong

Employers are primary and necessary agents in the return of people with disabilities to the work force. In this study, employment attitudes about two key constructs for vocational rehabilitation are examined: hiring the person with a disability and accommodating the person with disabilities at work. One hundred employers from Beijing, Hong Kong, and Chicago were surveyed regarding their attitudes. Results showed employers from Beijing were less likely to endorse hiring people with disabilities compared with those from Chicago and Hong Kong. In addition, people with psychiatric disabilities were less likely to be hired compared with those with physical disabilities. No clear pattern by city emerged for accommodations. Reasons why this pattern of attitudes emerged are discussed. Implications of these findings for attitude change are also considered.

Social interventions to moderate discriminatory attitudes: The case of the physically challenged in India

Disability attitudes are major barriers in improving life conditions of physically challenged people in developing countries. Studies have shown that people, in general, harbour negative and paternalistic attitudes towards persons with disabilities. Myths, legends, scriptures and folklores are all part of the cultural belief system that shape such attitudes. The physically challenged frequently suffer more due to societal prejudices than due to their disabling physical conditions. The social and physical environment in which these physically challenged live is often designed without much consideration of their special needs. In this article, some social interventions aimed at changing disability attitudes of rural people in India are discussed. As part of a community-based rehabilitation programme, the main thrust of these interventions was to shift attention of local communities from disabilities to abilities of the physically challenged. The efficacy of these social interventions is discussed.

The development and psychometric validation of the Disability Attitude Implicit Association Test.

The development and psychometric validation of the Disability Attitude Implicit Association Test.

Employment expectations as a differential indicator of attitudes toward people with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Employment expectations as a differential indicator of attitudes toward people with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Children's Attitudes and Behavioural Intentions Towards Peers with Disabilities

This study used the theory of reasoned action to investigate determinants of primary school children's attitudes and behavioural intentions towards peers with physical disabilities. The influence of children's own attitudes toward working with peers with physical disabilities in regular classes and subjective norms provided by their teachers, principals, and parents were used to predict behavioural intentions to befriend and interact with classmates with physical disabilities. The participants were 143 fourth and fifth grade primary school students, their mothers, teachers, and school principals. The students completed an attitude questionnaire and a behavioural intention scale. Their parents, teachers, and principals completed a similar disability attitude questionnaire. The results supported the predictions made by the theory of reasoned action. Children's own attitudes towards the inclusion of peers with disabilities was the strongest predictor of behavioural intentions to interact with a classmate with a physical disability. The attitudes of teachers, principals, and parents were also significant predictors of intentions. However, only the attitudes of parents and school principals accounted for any more variance than children's attitudes alone. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of developing whole class interventions to promote the social integration of children with physical disabilities.

Class and Disability: Influences on learning expectations

This paper describes some findings from in-depth interviews with 10 adults with disabilities, most of whom had strong working class connections. It places the findings in the context of feminist post-structuralist theory. Whilst the research is not directly to do with gender relationships, the theoretical framework highlights notions of difference, cultural value and meaning which play a significant role in the power relationships between dominant and subordinated groups. The interviews invited participants to tell their life story with regard to educational experiences. Analysis of these stories indicated that expectations, rather than ambitions, had influenced most people's educational activities as adults. The combination of poor childhood experiences, class and disability attitudes, had a powerful influence on personal goals, which appeared to misrepresent real potential or real interest, once stimulated. The extract here is part of a larger research project which is looking at differentials amongst t...

Re: ???Relationship of Socialization and Stress to Perimenstrual Symptoms, Disability, and Menstrual Attitudes???

Re: ???Relationship of Socialization and Stress to Perimenstrual Symptoms, Disability, and Menstrual Attitudes???

Relationship of Socialization and Stress to Perimenstrual Symptoms, Disability, and Menstrual Attitudes

This study examined the influence of socialization and exposure to a stressful milieu on perimenstrual symptoms, related disability, and menstrual attitudes. Women (N = 179) aged 18 to 35 were interviewed using the Index of Sex Role Orientation, Schedule of Recent Events, Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire, Path analysis was used to assess a model based on Mechanic's (1962, 1980) concept of illness behavior for negative affect, pain, and water retention symptoms during the perimenstruum. Exposure to a stressful milieu was useful in explaining cyclic, recurrent symptoms of negative affect. Of all the symptom clusters, negative affect was found to be the most important cause of perimenstrual disability. Traditional socialization, intense negative affect symptoms, and related disability all influenced menstrual attitudes.

Do Sighted People Respond to Different Levels of Visual Loss?

Although an extensive literature has developed from the investigation of the attitudes of the sighted toward the blind, and of the nondisabled toward the disabled, little emphasis has been placed on differences in attitudes towards subtypes of blind people. Partially sighted and totally blind people vary significantly in life experiences and abilities. In this study, eight random samples of respondents from a small Western city were presented with questionnaires which requested that they evaluate the characteristics of a stimulus person who varied by sightedness (blind, totally sightless, partially sighted, sighted), and age (35 or 65 years). Respondents gave higher expectations to sighted than partially sighted persons, and higher to partially sighted than to totally sightless persons. The older stimulus person was given lower expectations. Age of respondent affected expectations for persons of all sightedness categories. Respondents did not distinguish between the term “blind” and the specified blindness conditions of partially sighted and totally sightless. These results were discussed within the context of other research on disability attitudes and attitudes toward racial and ethnic minorities.