Understanding Emergent Social Workers’ Experiences and Attitudes Toward People with Psychiatric, Physical, and Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT

Social workers are instrumental in the lives of many people with disabilities, yet despite a strong foundation for this relationship, there is a dearth of research exploring the experiences and attitudes of social work students toward people with disabilities. To bridge this gap, the current study surveyed graduate social work students to understand the influence of different attributes on student responses to people with disabilities, identify variability in student attitudes toward people with different disabilities, and identify factors that predict student attitudes toward people with disabilities. Results from 212 student respondents indicated that their self-identified level of knowledge differed by disability type and significantly predicted attitudes across disability types. In addition, gender differences emerged, with men having more negative attitudes than women toward people with disabilities. This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting the importance of disability type and the need for further dialogue and focus on disabilities in the profession.

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge Dustin Nisley, LMSW, for his assistance with the literature review during the conceptualization of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John M. Keesler

John M. Keesler is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Indiana University Bloomington.  His research focuses on adversity/trauma, trauma-informed care, and individual psychological wellness, with a particular interest in disability services.