Comparison of attitudes toward disability and people with disability among caregivers, the public, and people with disability: findings from a cross-sectional survey.
A negative attitude toward disability is one of the potential barriers for people with disability (PWD) to achieve social equality. Although numerous studies have investigated attitudes toward disability, few have evaluated personal attitudes toward disability among PWD, and made comparisons with attitudes of healthy respondents. This study was to investigate and compare the attitudes of PWD, caregivers, and the public toward disability and PWD in China, to identify discrepancies in attitude among the three groupsand to examine potential influencing factors of attitude within each group.



A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2912 PWD, 507 caregivers, and 354 members of the public in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected on participants' socio-demographic information and personal attitudes toward disability using the Attitude to Disability Scale (ADS). ANOVA and ANCOVA were applied to compare the level of attitude among the three groups. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between each background factor and attitude within each group.



Over 90 % of caregivers were PWD's family members. After controlling the socio-demographic characteristics, caregivers had the lowest total scores of ADS (caregivers: 47.7; PWD: 52.3; the public: 50.5). Caregivers who had taken care of PWD for longer durations of time had a more negative attitude toward disability. In contrast, PWD who had been disabled for longer times had a more positive attitude toward disability.



The current national social security system of China does not adequately support PWD's family-member caregivers who may need assistance coping with their life with PWDs. More research is needed, and the development of a new health-care model for PWD is warranted.
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Qiaolan
Q
Zheng
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Qi
Q
Tian
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. haochun@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Chun
C
Hao
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Jing
J
Gu
Guangzhou Service Center of Assistive Devices, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Jianting
J
Tao
Guangzhou Disabled Person's Federation, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Zuoyi
Z
Liang
Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Statistics, College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Xinlin
X
Chen
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Jiqian
J
Fang
Guangzhou Service Center of Assistive Devices, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Jianhua
J
Ruan
Guangzhou Service Center of Assistive Devices, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Qiuxiang
Q
Ai
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. haoyt@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Yuantao
Y
Hao
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Attitude(s) toward disability; Caregivers; People with disability; Public
Scand J Caring Sci. 2014 Jun;28(2):215-24
23578033
Qual Health Res. 2003 Jan;13(1):4-19
12564260
BMJ. 2001 Jul 28;323(7306):178-9
11473898
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014 Feb 23;12:25
24559096
J Intellect Disabil Res. 2013 Mar;57(3):279-92
23279318
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2006 Oct-Nov;21(5):333-8
17062552
Health Soc Care Community. 2017 Mar;25(2):435-446
26806296
J Fam Psychol. 2006 Jun;20(2):239-46
16756399
Schizophr Res. 2004 Jun 1;68(2-3):373-85
15099619
Lancet. 2009 Oct 3;374(9696):1196-208
19801098
J Soc Work Disabil Rehabil. 2009;8(2):82-94
19459128
Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2013 Jan;18(1):58-63
23291799
Brain Inj. 2002 Nov;16(11):947-53
12443546
J Intellect Disabil Res. 2010 Sep;54(9):860-74
20712699
Reumatol Clin. 2013 Nov-Dec;9(6):334-9
23871505
BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2013 Mar 11;13:17
23497079
J Adv Nurs. 2002 Oct;40(1):96-104
12230534
Int J MS Care. 2015 May-Jun;17(3):122-9
26052257
J Intellect Disabil Res. 2009 Jan;53(1):54-64
19093982
Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc. 2010 Jul-Sep;19(3):223-32
21261218
Muscle Nerve. 2015 Mar;51(3):353-7
24976369
Res Dev Disabil. 2012 Nov-Dec;33(6):2122-40
22784823