Invisible disabilities : attitudes of university students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the differing attitudes university students have between visible and invisible disabilities. University students were recruited for this study and was conducted by means of an anonymous online survey. The survey included three vignettes accompanied by an adapted version of the Bogardus scale (Wark, 2007) and the Attitude Toward Disability Scale (Power et al., 2010). To analyse the results a non-parametric statistical test known as the Friedman test was utilised. Results displayed that there was a consistent response where participants expressed more willingness to form a relationship with persons with a visible disability, as opposed to persons with a mental disability. The attitudes toward disability scale questions reflected that respondents believed that persons with a visible disability are stronger, wiser, and more determined due to their disability. The primary difference identified was that of mental disabilities and how it differed from the other two, the nuanced differences between them are presumed to be related to issues such as vulnerability and distrust.