A national survey of young people's perceptions of mental handicap

Over 1300, 15 and 16-year-old students throughout Ireland, completed a range of questionnaires which covered their past contact with mentally handicapped adults, their perceptions of them, their views on integration within society and their knowledge about the causes of this disability. It was found that only one quarter of the students had ever interacted with a mentally handicapped adult and nearly half of them had never been in their company. There were marked differences between these subgroups in their perceptions of, and attitudes to, mentally handicapped people. Equally striking were the differences between male and female students, although the effects of social background, city versus country and socio-economic status, were less pronounced. The implications for school-based, educational programmes on disability are discussed and areas for further research are highlighted.