The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study
Understanding and embracing positive attitudes toward disability are crucial for inclusive practices. Universities play a key role in shaping these attitudes, making higher education critical for promoting inclusion and understanding diversity. This study investigates the influence of career selecti...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Education Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/1/61 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832588598938959872 |
|---|---|
| author | Luisa Gámez-Calvo Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez Margarita Gozalo |
| author_facet | Luisa Gámez-Calvo Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez Margarita Gozalo |
| author_sort | Luisa Gámez-Calvo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding and embracing positive attitudes toward disability are crucial for inclusive practices. Universities play a key role in shaping these attitudes, making higher education critical for promoting inclusion and understanding diversity. This study investigates the influence of career selection and academic progression on university students’ attitudes toward disability and the associated impact on their future professional practices. A total of 446 university students from Extremadura, studying across physical activity and sports science, occupational therapy, and early childhood education, participated in this comparative study. The Spanish Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities Scale for Professionals was administered to students in their first and final years of study. The results revealed significant variations in attitudes toward disability among the different disciplines and academic years. Early childhood education and occupational therapy students exhibited more positive attitudes compared to physical activity and sports sciences students in their first year. The attitudes improved significantly across all the disciplines from the first to the final year, with notable positive changes among early childhood education and occupational therapy students. This study highlights the role of educational pathways and practical experiences in fostering positive attitudes. Tailored coursework and practical training can promote better healthcare and inclusive educational practices in future health and education professionals. Furthermore, this study highlights the need to improve the approach to competences in the analyzed university programs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-03853cc543224eaa9aee22c821baf69b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-03853cc543224eaa9aee22c821baf69b2025-01-24T13:30:25ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-01-011516110.3390/educsci15010061The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative StudyLuisa Gámez-Calvo0Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez1Margarita Gozalo2Training Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, SpainTraining Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, SpainPsychology Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, SpainUnderstanding and embracing positive attitudes toward disability are crucial for inclusive practices. Universities play a key role in shaping these attitudes, making higher education critical for promoting inclusion and understanding diversity. This study investigates the influence of career selection and academic progression on university students’ attitudes toward disability and the associated impact on their future professional practices. A total of 446 university students from Extremadura, studying across physical activity and sports science, occupational therapy, and early childhood education, participated in this comparative study. The Spanish Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities Scale for Professionals was administered to students in their first and final years of study. The results revealed significant variations in attitudes toward disability among the different disciplines and academic years. Early childhood education and occupational therapy students exhibited more positive attitudes compared to physical activity and sports sciences students in their first year. The attitudes improved significantly across all the disciplines from the first to the final year, with notable positive changes among early childhood education and occupational therapy students. This study highlights the role of educational pathways and practical experiences in fostering positive attitudes. Tailored coursework and practical training can promote better healthcare and inclusive educational practices in future health and education professionals. Furthermore, this study highlights the need to improve the approach to competences in the analyzed university programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/1/61university studentsattitudes toward disability inclusionhealthinclusive education |
| spellingShingle | Luisa Gámez-Calvo Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez Margarita Gozalo The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study Education Sciences university students attitudes toward disability inclusion health inclusive education |
| title | The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study |
| title_full | The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study |
| title_fullStr | The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study |
| title_short | The Importance of Positive Attitudes Toward Disability Among Future Health and Education Professionals: A Comparative Study |
| title_sort | importance of positive attitudes toward disability among future health and education professionals a comparative study |
| topic | university students attitudes toward disability inclusion health inclusive education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/1/61 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luisagamezcalvo theimportanceofpositiveattitudestowarddisabilityamongfuturehealthandeducationprofessionalsacomparativestudy AT jesusmunozjimenez theimportanceofpositiveattitudestowarddisabilityamongfuturehealthandeducationprofessionalsacomparativestudy AT margaritagozalo theimportanceofpositiveattitudestowarddisabilityamongfuturehealthandeducationprofessionalsacomparativestudy AT luisagamezcalvo importanceofpositiveattitudestowarddisabilityamongfuturehealthandeducationprofessionalsacomparativestudy AT jesusmunozjimenez importanceofpositiveattitudestowarddisabilityamongfuturehealthandeducationprofessionalsacomparativestudy AT margaritagozalo importanceofpositiveattitudestowarddisabilityamongfuturehealthandeducationprofessionalsacomparativestudy |