Changing Attitudes Towards People with Disabilities in a Positive Direction: A Pilot Practice of Psychoeducation in Primary Education

Abstract

Background: Acceptance by society and a sense of belonging are fundamental needs, second only to physiological requirements. However, discrimination, involving the exclusion of individuals perceived as different and less worthy, remains a pervasive issue in almost every society. Those most adversely affected by this problem are often people with disabilities. This study aimed to assess the impact of a multi-component psychoeducational program on the attitudes of children with typical development toward peers with disabilities during middle childhood. Participants and procedure: An experimental study was conducted, involving 61 students aged 9-12 attending primary school. The pretest-posttest results of the experimental, placebo, and control groups were compared at the end of the study. Results: The psychoeducational program was found to significantly enhance the attitudes of typically developing children toward their peers with disabilities. Specifically, statistically significant differences were observed in the avoidance dimension and the total attitude score among typically developing children in the experimental, placebo, and control groups. However, no significance was found in the dimensions of acceptance, pity, and sense of similarity. Conclusions: The study's findings are expected to contribute to preventive and intervention programs designed to foster positive attitudes towards people with disabilities in primary education.