title: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Knowledge and Stigma Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Among College Students in Lebanon and the United States.
abstract: Although misconceptions associated with ASD are apparent worldwide, they may differ across cultures. This study compares knowledge and stigma associated with ASD in a country with limited autism resources, Lebanon, and a country with substantial autism resources, the United States (US). College students in the US (N = 346) and Lebanon (N = 329) completed assessments of knowledge and stigma associated with ASD before and after an online ASD training. Although students in the US exhibited higher overall knowledge and lower stigma towards ASD, certain misconceptions were more apparent in the US than in Lebanon. Participation in the training was associated with decreased stigma and increased knowledge in both countries. Thus, online training may be useful for increasing understanding about ASD internationally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY, USA. rita.obeid6@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Nidal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daou
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeNigris
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shane-Simpson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gillespie-Lynch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D057545:Social Stigma; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ASD; Cross-cultural; Knowledge; Lebanon; Online training; Stigma