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Attribution Model of Stigma towards Children with Autism in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
Ling Candy Y. M.,
Mak Winnie W. S.,
Cheng Janice N. S.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2008.00456.x
Subject(s) - autism , sympathy , attribution , psychology , anger , vignette , cognition , anger management , developmental psychology , coaching , stigma (botany) , social cognition , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist
Background Accounting for the effects of knowledge of and experience with autism, the relationships of cognitive attribution (perceived controllability), emotions (anger and sympathy), as well as helping and punitive behavioural intentions towards children with autism were examined. Based on the attribution model, mediating effects of anger and sympathy on cognitive attributions and behavioural intentions were tested. Materials and Methods 123 frontline staff in educational settings completed a modified version of the Attribution Questionnaire after reading a hypothetical vignette and completing a quiz on autism. Results Knowledge and experience were only significantly related to punitive behavioural intention towards children with autism. Anger and sympathy mediated the effect between perceived controllability on both helping and punitive behavioural intentions. Conclusions The intentional responses towards children with autism were strongly related to their emotional reactions. Thus, in addition to educating frontline staff about autism, training them on emotion regulation is equally important in autism stigma reduction.