title: Effect of exposure to Special Olympic Games on attitudes of volunteers towards inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine the effect of volunteering for Special Olympics Games (SOG) on the attitudes of volunteers towards inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A repeated measures design with 3-week follow-up was used. There were 100 volunteers recruited for the study and 90 of them completed the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was revealed that a 1-week exposure to the SOG improved volunteers' attitudes towards inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities significantly (P = 0.016). Females had more positive attitudes than males at all three time points of measures. The interaction effect of gender was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 1-week exposure to the SOG can enhance volunteers' positive attitudes towards inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and this effect can maintain for up to a month.
authors: National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Chunxiao
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Chee Keng John
authors: CK
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D013177:Sports; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Special Olympic Games; inclusion; intellectual disability; volunteers