How Educators' Self-Construal Shapes Teacher Training: Navigating from Autism Awareness to Stigma

This study examined how self-construal, a key aspect of cultural structure, influences teacher training to improve autism awareness and reduce stigma. It explored autism awareness, self-construal, and stigma levels among potential educators, as well as the relationships between these factors. The study also investigated the mediating role of self-construal in the link between autism awareness and stigma. The study included 1031 potential educators-individuals with no teaching experience with students with ASD but likely to work with them in the future. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were collected using a demographic form, Autism Awareness Scale, Self-Construal Scale, and Stigma Scale. The study found that both autonomous and relational self-construals significantly impacted autism awareness and stigma. These cultural factors influenced how potential educators perceive and respond to ASD. The analysis highlighted the mediating role of self-construal between autism awareness and stigma. The study concluded that self-construal, as a cultural element, plays a significant role in shaping potential educators' approaches to autism awareness and stigma reduction. It is recommended that teacher training programs incorporate cultural factors like self-construal to complement efforts in enhancing autism awareness and reducing stigma, ensuring that potential educators' cultural structures do not outweigh their professional qualifications in interactions with students with ASD.