Religious/Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs, Frequency of Contact, and Gender as Predictors of Attitudes Toward Persons With Disabilities

Abstract

Although much research has been carried out to identify the demographic and psychological variables linked to attitudes toward persons with disabilities (PWD), little research has examined the association between religious/spiritual (R/S) involvement and beliefs and attitudes toward PWD. In this study, a sample of university students without disabilities was surveyed to explore the relationship between R/S involvement and beliefs, frequency of contact with PWD, gender, and attitudes toward disability in four attitudinal domains: inclusion, discrimination, gains, and prospects. Higher endorsement of R/S involvement and beliefs was positively and significantly related to more favorable attitudes concerning inclusion of PWD and the prospects of PWD. Frequency of contact was found to significantly and positively associate with more favorable attitudes about the prospects of PWD. Male respondents reported significantly more favorable attitudes toward PWD in terms of discrimination and gains, whereas female respondents endorsed significantly more favorable attitudes toward PWD for prospects. When controlling for frequency of contact and gender, R/S involvement and belief was found to predict slightly less favorable attitudes about the prospects of PWD. Implications are discussed in light of the interactions between PWD and R/S communities.