Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Individuals with ASD often face significant challenges in their daily lives, including discrimination and social exclusion. These challenges are often rooted in negative societal attitudes towards autism. To better understand and address these issues, researchers have developed various measures to assess societal attitudes towards autism. One such measure is the Societal Attitudes Towards Autism (SATA) scale.
The SATA Scale: A Brief Overview
The SATA scale is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure individuals’ attitudes towards people with autism. It assesses a range of attitudes, including acceptance, empathy, and stigma. The original English version of the scale has been widely used in research and clinical settings.
Adapting the SATA Scale for the Portuguese Population
To ensure that the SATA scale is culturally relevant and applicable to the Portuguese population, researchers adapted and validated the scale for this context. This adaptation involved translating the original English items into Portuguese and conducting psychometric analyses to ensure the scale’s reliability and validity.
Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese SATA Scale
The Portuguese version of the SATA scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a unifactorial structure, indicating that the scale measures a single underlying construct. The scale also exhibited acceptable internal consistency, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha. Additionally, the scale demonstrated convergent validity, as evidenced by significant correlations with measures of compassion and empathy.
Factors Influencing Societal Attitudes Towards Autism
Several factors were found to influence societal attitudes towards autism in the Portuguese population. These factors included:
- Gender: Women reported more positive attitudes towards autism compared to men.
- Age: Individuals aged 31-45 years demonstrated more positive attitudes than those in other age groups.
- Knowledge and Contact: People with more knowledge of and contact with individuals with autism tended to have more positive attitudes.
- Family Connection: Having an autistic family member was associated with more positive attitudes.
Implications for Interventions and Future Research
The findings from this study have important implications for interventions aimed at improving societal attitudes towards autism. By targeting these specific factors, policymakers and educators can develop programs and initiatives that promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals with ASD.
Future research could further explore the factors influencing societal attitudes towards autism, particularly in different cultural contexts. Additionally, investigating the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve these attitudes would be valuable.
Conclusion
The Portuguese version of the SATA scale is a valuable tool for measuring societal attitudes towards autism in Portugal. The findings from this study provide important insights into the factors influencing these attitudes and can inform the development of interventions to promote greater acceptance and inclusion for individuals with ASD. By understanding and addressing societal attitudes, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone.
Source:
https://nasenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-8578.12544