Start Date
19-6-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
19-6-2025 1:00 PM
Abstract
Introduction People with disabilities (PWD) face prejudice and negative attitudes worldwide. This reality is not different in Brazil, where 8.9% of the population report "great difficulty" or "total inability" performing essential functions (e.g., seeing, hearing, moving, tasks, taking care of themselves, communicating, learning, remembering, concentrating) (IBGE, 2023). Few studies examine if attitudes vary by disability type (TIMMONS; MCGINNITY; CARROLL, 2023). Considering this context, this study investigated if second-year undergraduate Physical Education students in a Brazilian university hold different attitudes towards people with physical (PWPD), visual (PWVD), and intellectual disabilities (PWID).
Methodology The participants were 105 students who completed a questionnaire adapted from “The Disability Social Relations Generalized Disability (DSRGD)” (Hergenrather & Rhodes, 2007). A quantitative analysis was conducted to assess attitude differences by disability type.
Results A significant number of students have negative attitudes towards PWD. For example, while 75.2% claimed they would be friends with PWVD, PWID (55.2%), and PWPD (54.3%), many said they would only accept friendship if commitment or support was minimal (23.8% PWID, 10.5% PWVD, 8.6% PWPD). Whereas 59% stated they would marry PWVD, 50.5% PWPD, and 35.2% PWID, others would only accept marriage if commitment was low (28.6% PWPD, 27.6% PWID, 12.4% PWVD). Some reported they would not marry PWID (36.2%), PWVD (28.6%), or PWPD (19%).
Conclusions Among students, there is a hierarchy of discrimination based on disability type, where PWID tend to be most discriminated. These findings underscore the need to combat prejudiced attitudes towards disabilities, particularly PWID, to reduce inequality and foster inclusion.
Recommended Citation
Souza, Doralice Lange de and Colere, Jackeline, "Brazilian Physical Education Undergraduate Students' Attitudes Toward Different Types of Disability" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 34.
https://sword.cit.ie/isapa/2025/day4/34
Brazilian Physical Education Undergraduate Students' Attitudes Toward Different Types of Disability
Introduction People with disabilities (PWD) face prejudice and negative attitudes worldwide. This reality is not different in Brazil, where 8.9% of the population report "great difficulty" or "total inability" performing essential functions (e.g., seeing, hearing, moving, tasks, taking care of themselves, communicating, learning, remembering, concentrating) (IBGE, 2023). Few studies examine if attitudes vary by disability type (TIMMONS; MCGINNITY; CARROLL, 2023). Considering this context, this study investigated if second-year undergraduate Physical Education students in a Brazilian university hold different attitudes towards people with physical (PWPD), visual (PWVD), and intellectual disabilities (PWID).
Methodology The participants were 105 students who completed a questionnaire adapted from “The Disability Social Relations Generalized Disability (DSRGD)” (Hergenrather & Rhodes, 2007). A quantitative analysis was conducted to assess attitude differences by disability type.
Results A significant number of students have negative attitudes towards PWD. For example, while 75.2% claimed they would be friends with PWVD, PWID (55.2%), and PWPD (54.3%), many said they would only accept friendship if commitment or support was minimal (23.8% PWID, 10.5% PWVD, 8.6% PWPD). Whereas 59% stated they would marry PWVD, 50.5% PWPD, and 35.2% PWID, others would only accept marriage if commitment was low (28.6% PWPD, 27.6% PWID, 12.4% PWVD). Some reported they would not marry PWID (36.2%), PWVD (28.6%), or PWPD (19%).
Conclusions Among students, there is a hierarchy of discrimination based on disability type, where PWID tend to be most discriminated. These findings underscore the need to combat prejudiced attitudes towards disabilities, particularly PWID, to reduce inequality and foster inclusion.
