Student attitudes and perceptions towards fellow students with autism spectrum disorders

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Published: Dec 31, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/thea.36385
Stella Tsermentseli
University of Thessaly
Ηλίας (Ilias) Βασιλειάδης (Vasileiadis)
Παιδαγωγικό Τμήμα Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Μακεδονίας
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7625-1709
Ευαγγελία Κίσσα
Παιδαγωγικό Τμήμα Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας
Abstract

Students attending university with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have increased in recent years and it is now more important than ever to understand the factors that contribute towards positive attitudes to ASD students by their peers. The current study examined Greek university students’ previous experience and knowledge about ASD and whether these predicted attitudes towards students with ASD. Participants were 241 undergraduate and post-graduate students attending Greek Universities. They completed the “Autism Spectrum Disorders and Higher Education Questionnaire”, developed by White et al (2019). Results showed that students who did not know someone with ASD reported fewer misconceptions about ASD and more negative attitudes towards students with ASD.  Correlations showed that previous experience with ASD was associated with positive attitudes towards ASD, whilst misconceptions about ASD correlated with negative attitudes. Accurate knowledge about ASD was not associated with attitudes towards ASD. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher number of misconceptions about autism reported significantly predicted more negative attitudes towards students with ASD. The findings agree with research on attitudes toward members of minority populations, including those with disabilities and are consistent with intergroup contact theory.

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Author Biography
Ηλίας (Ilias) Βασιλειάδης (Vasileiadis), Παιδαγωγικό Τμήμα Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Μακεδονίας

Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας , Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Μακεδονίας

Department of Psychology, University of Western Macedonia

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