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Social representations of intellectual disability; a comparison between cultures
S Richa1, C Khairallah1, E Khoury1
1Facuty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Lebanon.
L'Encephale
|August 15, 2022
Summary
Social representations of intellectual disability vary significantly across cultures. European countries like France and Belgium showed more positive attitudes compared to Algeria, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve public perception.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Studies
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Intellectual disability is a significant social issue, with affected individuals often facing societal stigma.
- Understanding cultural perceptions of intellectual disability is crucial for developing effective support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare social representations of intellectual disability across diverse cultural contexts.
- To identify cultural variations in attitudes towards individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted in four international sites: Beirut (Lebanon), Algiers (Algeria), Tours (France), and Namur (Belgium).
- 755 participants completed assessments on their social representations of intellectual disability.
Main Results:
- Significant cultural differences in social representations of intellectual disability were observed.
- Algeria exhibited the least positive representations, while Lebanon showed more positive attitudes.
- France and Belgium demonstrated the most favorable representations among the studied populations.
Conclusions:
- Cultural context profoundly influences social representations of intellectual disability.
- Interventions must be culturally tailored to effectively improve attitudes and reduce stigma towards intellectual disability.
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