The objective of this study was to compare the self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, knowledge about and attitude toward the disabled of undergraduates between the disabled related and non-related departments. The disabled related department was de...
The objective of this study was to compare the self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, knowledge about and attitude toward the disabled of undergraduates between the disabled related and non-related departments. The disabled related department was defined as nursing and social welfare departments. The disabled non-related departments was defined as the departments such as civil engineering, communication design, sport and leisure studies department excluding nursing and social welfare departments. Four hundred fifty three students were surveyed. Self-esteem, interpersonal relationship and attitude were measured with Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Relationship Change Scale, Scale of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons(SADP), respectively. The scale to measure knowledge was developed by the researcher. The result was analyzed by using SPSS 12.0K PC.
Self-esteem was significantly different by age, parents' economic state, experience of voluntary service, and self-interest toward the disabled. Interpersonal relationship was significantly different by parents' economic state and grade. Knowledge about the disabled was different by sex, age, grown area, grade, experience of voluntary service and experience of being diagnosed. Attitude toward the disabled was different by department and interest in problems of the disabled.
Among self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, knowledge about and attitude toward the disabled, only attitude toward the disabled was different between undergraduates of the disabled related and non-related departments. That is nursing students were found to have the most positive attitude toward the disabled. Contrary to the expectation, the students of social welfare department have the least positive attitude toward the disabled. Based on these results, it is recommended that young male undergraduates who have no experience of voluntary service were given the chance to meet the disabled. Also the prejudice that the disabled related department students have positive attitude toward the disabled must be reconsidered.