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Linking knowledge and attitudes: Determining neurotypical knowledge about and attitudes towards autism.

Authors :
Kuzminski, Rebecca
Netto, Julie
Wilson, Joel
Falkmer, Torbjorn
Chamberlain, Angela
Falkmer, Marita
Source :
PLoS ONE; 7/25/2019, Vol. 14 Issue 7, p1-15, 15p
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

“Why are neurotypicals so pig-ignorant about autism?” an autistic person wrote on the Curtin Autism Research Group’s on-line portal as a response to a call for research questions. Co-produced with an autistic researcher, knowledge about and attitudes towards autism were analysed from 1,054 completed surveys, representing the Australian neurotypical adult population. The majority, 81.5% of participants had a high level of knowledge and 81.3% of participants had a strong positive attitude towards autism. Neither age, nor education level had an impact on attitudes. However, attitudes were influenced by knowledge about ‘Societal Views and Ideas’; ‘What it Could be Like to Have Autism’; and the demographic variables ‘Knowing and having spent time around someone with autism’; and gender (women having more positive attitudes than men). Thus, targeted interventions, geared more towards men than women, to increase knowledge about autism could further improve attitudes and increase acceptance of the autistic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
14
Issue :
7
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
PLoS ONE
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
137700550
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220197