Maintenance of Improved Attitudes Toward Stuttering

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Early interventions can shape attitudes towards stuttering.
• Long-term maintenance of attitude changes is crucial for reducing stigma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the 7-year maintenance of positive attitudes towards stuttering induced in high school.
• To compare attitude changes in individuals who received interventions versus a control group.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 36 adults (Follow-up group) who had participated in stuttering education in high school.
• Administered the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes-Stuttering (POSHAS) before and after interventions, and 7 years later.
• Compared the Follow-up group to a control group of 56 individuals who did not receive interventions.

Main Results:

• The Follow-up group showed significantly more positive POSHAS ratings than the control group.
• Positive attitude changes regarding stuttering were largely maintained over the 7-year period.
• Ratings were slightly lower than immediately post-intervention but still reflected significant positive shifts.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions about stuttering can lead to lasting positive changes in attitudes.
• Witnessing personal stories and facts about stuttering effectively influences beliefs and self-reactions long-term.
• Findings support the value of early, evidence-based education in fostering acceptance of stuttering.