Transitioning from decades of segregation: religiosity and the attitudes towards intellectual disability in Romania

Abstract

ABSTRACT As a post-communist country still transitioning from a culture of segregation of people with disability, Romania marks a distinct cultural space for studying the attitudes towards intellectual disability. In the current study, we investigated a prediction model which included age, gender, and religiosity as variables accounting for the variations in Romanian’s attitudes towards intellectual disability. Additionally, we measured the associations between participants’ educational level, knowledge about intellectual disability, and interaction with people with intellectual disabilities. Our sample consisted of 523 participants aged 18 to 74 (M = 29.02, SD = 9.57). The results suggested that older and male participants held more favourable attitudes. Furthermore, the regression analysis highlighted a significant prediction model for the attitudes towards intellectual disability, with religiosity being the most significant predictor. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the current findings given the social and cultural particularities.