Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study
Introduction: The prevalence of students with disabilities has increased in universities recently. Negative attitudes toward students with disabilities may contribute to a negative impact on them. This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of university students’ empathy and attitude toward st...
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| Language: | English |
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Edizioni FS
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHSS_MPTH6.pdf |
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| author | Mutaz F. ALRADAYDEH Izzeddin A. BDAIR Gladys Marie L. MARIBBAY |
| author_facet | Mutaz F. ALRADAYDEH Izzeddin A. BDAIR Gladys Marie L. MARIBBAY |
| author_sort | Mutaz F. ALRADAYDEH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The prevalence of students with disabilities has increased in universities recently.
Negative attitudes toward students with disabilities may contribute to a negative impact on them. This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of university students’ empathy and attitude toward students with disabilities.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design study was conducted at a public university in Jordan. The study sample was comprised of 303 participants who were conveniently selected. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data, including demographic characteristics. Empathy was measured using the Basic Empathy Scale (BES). The attitude was measured using the attitude towards disabled person scale (ATDP).
Results: The mean age of participants was 20.8 years (SD±1.56). Approximately half of the students were females, enrolled in scientific faculties, and in their fourth academic year. Two-thirds of students have no relatives with any mental or physical disabilities. The students showed a high level of empathy and no significant differences in empathy total scores about students’ demographics. The mean total score for ATDP was 62.99 out of 120 (SD±13.49). Female students had higher scores of ATDP than male students (M=65.48 ±13.9). Students in humanistic faculties had higher scores of ATDP than students in scientific faculties (M=64.8 ±14.1). The level of empathy among university students was negatively correlated with the total score of ATDP (r = -.197, p≤ .001).
Discussion: The findings suggest that exposure to students with disabilities' culture may promote positive attitudes and better cultural understanding toward them. Actions are urgently needed to empower students with disabilities and make them feel more accepted and productive in academic institutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f752edd1cee847ad865a0b213bff4807 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2499-2240 2499-5886 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Edizioni FS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-f752edd1cee847ad865a0b213bff48072025-01-31T10:53:08ZengEdizioni FSJournal of Health and Social Sciences2499-22402499-58862024-06-0192251262Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional studyMutaz F. ALRADAYDEH0Izzeddin A. BDAIR1Gladys Marie L. MARIBBAY2Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan. E-mail: m.foad@ju.edu.joNursing Department, Al-Ghad College for Applied Medical Sciences, Riyadh, KSA. E-mail : izzaden_1986@yahoo.com, iabubdair@gc.edu.saNursing Department, Al-Ghad College for Applied Medical Sciences, Riyadh, KSA. E-mail: dimpledit@gmail.comIntroduction: The prevalence of students with disabilities has increased in universities recently. Negative attitudes toward students with disabilities may contribute to a negative impact on them. This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of university students’ empathy and attitude toward students with disabilities. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design study was conducted at a public university in Jordan. The study sample was comprised of 303 participants who were conveniently selected. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data, including demographic characteristics. Empathy was measured using the Basic Empathy Scale (BES). The attitude was measured using the attitude towards disabled person scale (ATDP). Results: The mean age of participants was 20.8 years (SD±1.56). Approximately half of the students were females, enrolled in scientific faculties, and in their fourth academic year. Two-thirds of students have no relatives with any mental or physical disabilities. The students showed a high level of empathy and no significant differences in empathy total scores about students’ demographics. The mean total score for ATDP was 62.99 out of 120 (SD±13.49). Female students had higher scores of ATDP than male students (M=65.48 ±13.9). Students in humanistic faculties had higher scores of ATDP than students in scientific faculties (M=64.8 ±14.1). The level of empathy among university students was negatively correlated with the total score of ATDP (r = -.197, p≤ .001). Discussion: The findings suggest that exposure to students with disabilities' culture may promote positive attitudes and better cultural understanding toward them. Actions are urgently needed to empower students with disabilities and make them feel more accepted and productive in academic institutions.https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHSS_MPTH6.pdfattitudedisabilitiesempathyuniversity students |
| spellingShingle | Mutaz F. ALRADAYDEH Izzeddin A. BDAIR Gladys Marie L. MARIBBAY Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study Journal of Health and Social Sciences attitude disabilities empathy university students |
| title | Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in Jordan: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | empathy and attitude of university students toward students with disabilities in jordan a cross sectional study |
| topic | attitude disabilities empathy university students |
| url | https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHSS_MPTH6.pdf |
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