A conjoint analysis of factors influencing American and Taiwanese college students' preferences for people with disabilities.

Objective: To determine the effect of demographic variables on attitudes toward disability. Participants: Eighty-three female American and 89 female Taiwanese college students. Outcome Measure: A conjoint measurement of 16 stimulus cards (representing people with varying disability labels, severity of disability, age, gender, and education). Procedures: The participants were asked to sort the stimulus cards according to their personal preferences for working with people with disabilities. Results: Younger and higher educated women with milder disabilities were preferred by both Taiwanese and American students. Preference formation is affected by both disability-related variables and other demographic variables (e.g., educational levels). Conclusion: The use of conjoint analysis to examine multiple attributes of persons with disabilities may have higher external validity than single-attribute-design studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adjustment of adolescents to chronic disability.

Investigated the relationship between adolescents' adjustment to a chronic disability and 8 demographic and attitudinal variables. Adjustment was defined as the total positive score on the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. Ss were 59 12–18 yr old females with idiopathic scoliosis and their mothers. Analysis identified the following 4 variables, in decreasing order, that correlated with the adjustment of adolescents to scoliosis: (a) adolescents' tendency toward the container-isolator end of B. A. Wright's (1960) theoretical continuum of coping responses to a physical disability as measured by an attitude toward disability test, (b) a dimension of maternal attitude toward disability as measured by a disability factor scale, (c) a dependency factor of maternal attitude toward females and persons with scoliosis as measured by a factor analyzed 70-item semantic differential scale, and (d) a maternal high self-concept factor from the semantic differential scale. Ss did not differ significantly from peers on the adjustment measure, and implications for treatment and rehabilitation are discussed. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The experience of disability: A challenge for psychology.

Presents data on the handicapped population in the US and demonstrates how social psychological theories explain the experience of disability. It is contended that disability is associated both with race and income and is more prevalent among those with less than an 8th-grade education than among those with a college education. A disability compounds the effects of sex and race on economic status. Stereotyping and prejudicial attitudes (including self-images of the disabled) limit the opportunities for disabled people. It is suggested that in addition to biological differences, the attitudes and behavior of the nonhandicapped toward the handicapped person, the values of appearance and independence that underlie these attitudes, and the power of prejudice and discrimination must be examined. It is concluded that the existence of disabilities compels people to confront what it means to be human. New directions for psychological research and service in light of the changing situation of handicapped people in today's society are proposed. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of employment and disability among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Objective: To explore the relationship between employment/disability and selected demographic, biological, and functionality variables for people living with HIV/AIDS. Study Design: Cross-sectional, correlational analysis. Setting: Outpatient HIV/AIDS immunosupression clinic. Main Outcome Measure: Participant employment and disability status. Results: Results of a forced-entry hierarchical logistic regression analysis indicated that race, age, CD-4, and measures of mental and physical functionality significantly predicted employment/disability among study participants. Conclusions: Demographic, biological, and functionality variables represent important predictors of employment and disability among people living with HIV/AIDS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Previous personal experience and reactions to depression and physical disability.

Conducted 2 experiments with 121 undergraduates to examine the effects of prior experience with people with disability on interpersonal reactions to depression expressed by a person with a disability. In the 1st study, Ss rejected further involvement with the depressed person and perceived this person to be socially impaired. In the 2nd study, Ss ascribed significantly more negative personal characteristics to the depressed person and evidenced more stereotypic attitudes toward persons with disability than Ss who viewed the nondepressed person. Results provide evidence that prior personal experience with people with disability does not moderate negative reactions to social displays of depressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social and interpersonal reactions to depression and disability.

Studied the reactions of 167 undergraduates to a 21-yr-old male actor with a physical disability who behaved in either a depressed or socially appropriate manner in an interview and appeared to be either physically disabled or nondisabled. Consistent with predictions, the actor was rated more favorably when he appeared disabled, and Ss had strong negative reactions to depressive behavior regardless of physical appearance. S attitudes toward persons with disability were affected by the interpersonal behavior of the target: Ss evidenced more open, accepting attitudes toward persons with disability after viewing appropriate behavior by the actor, and Ss in the depressed disabled condition endorsed more stereotypic, negative attitudes. Results are discussed in terms of "kindness norm" behavior and social models of depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diversity beliefs as a mediator to faculty attitudes toward students with disabilities.

A survey of a sample of faculty (N = 201) at a large, public university located in the Southwest was conducted to investigate whether differences in faculty attitudes toward diversity positively mediate faculty attitudes toward persons with disabilities. In addition, the current study examined whether differences in faculty attitudes toward diversity may be viewed as positively mediating the relationship between instructor characteristics and their attitudes toward persons with disabilities. This study concludes that faculty members may not be viewing disability as part of the greater construct of diversity with empirical evidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The structure of attitudes toward persons with a disability, when specific disability and context are considered.

Examined the structure of the Disability Social Relationship (DSR) scale developed by S. A. Grand et al (1982) with data from 259 university students in 5 health care areas: occupational therapy, physical therapy, medicine, nursing, and clinical psychology. Data support the multidimensionality of attitudes toward persons who have a physical disability and the interaction influence of specific target disability and social situation on these attitudes. Attitudinal components, as measured by the DSR scale, reflected the importance of perceived limitations of particular disabilities, apprehensions concerning social stigmatization, situational constraints, and Ss' perceptions of functional limitations as interfering with relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Freud and disability.

Reviewed several books about Freud's work and Psychological Abstracts to provide an analysis of Freud's writings and theories as related to persons with physical disabilities and identify references to disability by Freud and pertinent supportive literature. Although Freud wrote very little about disability per se, many of his ideas can be applied directly to understanding attitudes toward disability and adjustment to disability processes. The relevance of concepts such as castration anxiety, fear of loss of love, ego strength, secondary gain, and the death instinct are specifically discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Joint impairment and self-reported disability in elderly persons

Recent findings indicating that arthritis is a major contributor to disability in elderly persons are based on self-reported diagnostic information. We conducted physical examinations of the joints at baseline on 541 older persons. We then tested a multivariate model of total/generic disability which included respondent group, demographic and chronic disease variables (joint impairment and comorbid conditions), arthritis pain, and psychological status. Hierarchical multiple regression found that the model explained 55 percent (adjusted R2 = .55) of the variance in baseline disability with joint impairment accounting for 15 percent (change in R2 = .15) of the variance. When joint impairment was removed from the model, arthritis pain worked well as a surrogate. Together, these findings strongly support the importance of musculoskeletal disease in explaining disability in the elderly population.     

Empirical evidence of the association between the presence of musculoskeletal pain and physical disability in community-dwelling senior citizens

The proportion of people 65 years of age and older who report musculoskeletal pain and physical disability is high. The main objective of this study was to determine whether physical disability was associated with the presence of musculoskeletal pain in a sample of senior citizens. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to a sample of 1306 community-dwelling senior citizens in London, Ontario, Canada between August and October 1995. The questionnaire included questions about pain, difficulty performing activities, depressive symptoms, chronic conditions, and demographic information. A total of 887 seniors completed the questionnaire (70.7% response rate, aged 65-94, 41.2% men, 58.8% women). Logistic regression analysis, without controlling for potential confounding variables, revealed that those who reported having musculoskeletal pain were seven times more likely to have some difficulty performing three or more activities listed in the questionnaire (OR = 6.91 95% CI 4.92-9.69). When significant confounding variables were controlled in the analysis, seniors who reported musculoskeletal pain were still three times more likely to have some difficulty with three or more activities (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.96-4.38). Although no causal relationship can be inferred, thorough pain assessment and pain management may be important in the maintenance of independent living for adults 65 years of age or older.     

The effect of occupational therapy education on students' perceived attitudes toward persons with disabilities

OBJECTIVES: The effect of occupational therapy education on students' perceived attitudes toward persons with disabilities was studied. METHOD: The perceived attitudes of 144 occupational therapy students toward persons with disabilities were measured before (retrospective pretest) and after (posttest) the students attended formal professional education at the University of Alberta. RESULTS: Posttest scores were significantly higher than the retrospective pretest scores, indicating that students' attitudes became more positive after they commenced formal professional education. The posttest scores of students at various levels of education, however, did not show any significant difference. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these observations, a positive but nonlinear relationship between occupational therapy education and attitudes toward persons with disabilities was postulated.     

Attitudes toward the dual role of the married professional woman.

Evaluated the attitudes of professional men and women toward the married professional woman's dual role in terms of 6 variables. Data were based on 60 of 90 questionnaires sent to persons affiliated with a university research organization and a social service agency. There were significant differences within the group for the variables of sex and profession but no significant differences for education, age, race, and professional experience. Findings indicate that while married professional women had positive attitudes toward the professional woman's dual role, negative attitudes were held by the case workers and the married professional men. It is concluded that negative attitudes toward this dual role both in- and outside of the professional community may indicate why few women prepare for and pursue professional careers. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlation between history of contact with people living with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) and tolerant attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and PWAs in rural Thailand

This study examines the hypothesis that people who have more contact with PWAs (people living with AIDS) are more tolerant than those who have no contact with them. Four provinces with different incidence of AIDS in 4 different regions of Thailand were selected. Structured questionnaire interviews were conducted with village people, asking about their history of contact with PWAs, and knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and PWAs (n = 434). An 'Attitude Score', which indicates an accepting attitude (or tolerance) toward HIV/AIDS and PWAs, was developed using the results of the questionnaire on attitudes. Six factors: sex, education, age, province, knowledge, and history of contact with PWAs were positively correlated with the Attitude Score. After a multiple regression analysis, contact with PWAs was significantly associated with Attitude Score. This study is one of the first analytical studies conducted in a non-Western country to show that people's tolerant attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and PWAs are positively related to their history of contact with HIV/AIDS and PWAs. This findings should have important implications for future educational programmes and preventative intervention.     

Predictors of longitudinal changes in memory, visuospatial, and verbal functioning in very old demented adults

Longitudinal changes in memory, visuospatial and verbal functioning in a sample of demented persons were examined. The role of several demographic, psychometric, and biological indices in predicting the rate of cognitive deterioration was also investigated. The sample consisted of 31 very old (mean age at entry = 83.5 years, range = 75-95) persons with Alzheimer's disease (n = 22) and vascular dementia (n = 9) from a community-based study. Subjects were tested on two occasions separated by approximately 2.5 years. Results indicated significant longitudinal decline in verbal fluency and visuospatial ability, but only on 1 of 3 measures of episodic memory. Results from regression analyses indicated that a variety of putatively important variables, including age, gender, education, digit span, as well as a number of biological (vitamin B12, TSH), dementia etiology, and psychometric (digit span) indicators, exhibited no relationship to rate of memory, visuospatial, or verbal decline. The results suggest that the rate of cognitive deterioration in dementia is highly variable, and this variability in change appears to include a variety of characteristics. A possible reason thereof may be that the role of individual-difference variables for cognitive functioning in dementia is overshadowed by the pathogenetic process itself.     

Perception of disability labels: Effect of attitude and stimulus presentation.

60 undergraduates aged (18–25 yrs) were classified as having high or low attitudes toward disabled persons based on responses to the Scale to Measure Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons. Ss made all possible comparisons between pairs of disabilities; half the Ss completed a general disability label matrix, and half completed a specific disability label matrix. Results suggest an interaction between attitude and type of disability label. High attitude Ss generated a perceptual space different from low attitude Ss when the disability labels were specific. When the disability labels were general, the perceptual space generated between the 2 attitude conditions was similar. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes toward disabled persons as a function of social context and specific disability.

191 nondisabled 18–64 yr olds completed the Disability Social Relationship Scale, which includes social situation subscales of Work, Dating, and Marriage, and disability subscales of Amputee, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, and Blind. Results reveal significant differences across social situations and among specific disabilities, as well as a significant interaction between social situation and disability. Thus, situational context affects attitudes toward disabled persons. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Oral disease and physical disability in community-dwelling older persons

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this epidemiologic investigation was to determine whether poor oral health in older persons was associated with physical disability. DESIGN: The study was a cross-sectional survey involving in-home interviews and dental examinations of older persons. SETTING: A random sample of 68 cities and towns was selected from the six New England states, with stratification according to population size. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample consisted of 1,156 community-dwelling (non-institutionalized) individuals aged 70 and over, randomly selected from the Medicare beneficiary lists for each city and town. MEASUREMENTS: Oral health was assessed by three dichotomous indices: edentulism (no teeth); current caries, including either coronal or root decay; and periodontal disease, as measured by gingival pocket depth. Physical disability was indicated by the subject's self-report of difficulty in the areas of personal care (eating, bathing, dressing, and using the toilet) and mobility (walking, bed transfer, getting outside). Additional independent variables included age, sex, number of teeth, education, living alone, oral hygiene practices, and time since last dental visit. RESULTS: We found a direct association between specific areas of physical disability and current caries and edentulism. The risk of poor oral health did not increase with advancing age once the related risk factors were controlled for. Those subjects with mobility disabilities were at increased risk of tooth loss; those with personal care limitations were at increased risk of current caries. CONCLUSIONS: Physical disability should be added to the list of known risk factors for oral disease among the older population. Our findings call attention to the need for health care providers to screen for oral health problems among disabled older persons. Further gerontologic research is needed to identify the mechanisms linking physical disability with oral disease in older persons.     

Rural school nurses' attitudes about AIDS and homosexuality

The AIDS epidemic has spread to rural areas of the United States. Conservative rural communities are facing the challenge of having children with HIV entering school. School nurses, as the only health care providers in the schools, are in a strong position to facilitate the education of children with HIV and to provide AIDS education to students, faculty, and parents. School nurses' knowledge and attitudes about AIDS and people with AIDS influence their effectiveness in prevention activities and care of HIV-infected children. This study examined the relationship between specific demographic, practice, and cultural variables and rural school nurses' attitudes about AIDS and homosexuality. Sixty-nine school nurses responded to a mailed questionnaire as part of a larger study of rural nurses. Results indicate attitudes about homosexuality were related to nurses' homosexual knowledge and religious beliefs while attitudes about AIDS were related to nurses' willingness to care for people with AIDS and feeling prepared to do so.