Traditional Chinese Values and Attitudes of Chinese University Students toward People with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore relationships between traditional Chinese values and attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities. A total of 534 college students in China participated in the study. Two instruments that measure Chinese values and attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities were used. Results indicated that the value of cultivation of virtues (benevolence, humanity, and a sense of justice) was positively related to attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities; and that the values of social traditionalism and cultural inwardness (cultural superiority and intolerance) were negatively correlated with attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, university students majoring in special education or with more knowledge of disabilities had more favourable attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities than university students majoring in regular education or with little knowledge of disabilities. Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of socio‐economic environments in China.

Keywords:

• attitude
• university major
• intellectual disabilities
• knowledge
• traditional Chinese values

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Faculty Grant‐in‐Aid Grant from San Diego State University awarded to the first author. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and may not reflect the position of the university. The authors would like to thank Dong Xue, Liu Yang, Lujia Zhang, and Elaine Hu‐Cook for their assistance in the data collection and instrument translations. They appreciate the contribution of all participants.