Chinese children's attitudes toward mental retardation

Abstract

The present study aimed to: (1) examine Chinese children's attitudes toward mental retardation, (2) investigate cross-cultural similarities or differences in these attitudes, and (3) extend the use of Western-attitude questionnaires to Chinese samples. The present study included 489 Chinese children (265 boys and 224 girls), aged from 4 to 15 years. Results showed that Chinese children demonstrated favorable attitudes toward mental retardation and school integration. Gender effect was not as robust as noted in previous Western research. As compared to older children in primary and secondary schools, younger children in kindergarten, tended to show the most positive attitudes toward mental retardation. Cross-cultural differences were also found between the present sample and an Irish sample (Gash, 1993) in sharing social activities, showing social concern, and accepting school integration of children with mental retardation. The present findings also suggested that it is feasible to extend the attitude questionnaire designed for use in the Western countries to Chinese children, albeit with slight modification and attention to cultural relevance.