S J Redpath1, M A Linden. 1. The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the public's attitudes towards survivors of brain injury in Northern Ireland. RESEARCH DESIGN: Four hypothetical vignettes were constructed to test how the acquisition of a brain injury impacted on people's attitudes. The stories of protagonists that they either acquired their injury through organic (e.g. haemorrhage) means or in some self-initiated (e.g. brawl) behaviour. The gender of the protagonists was varied to examine differences in attitudes to males and females. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Adapted versions of the Prejudicial Evaluation Scale (PES) and Social Interaction Scale (SIS) were administered to 96 university students. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The data was analysed using three 2 x 2 between subjects ANOVAs and showed that there was no significant main effect of gender, a highly significant effect of injury on negative attitudes (F(1, 92) = 68.30, p < 0.001], amount of desired social interaction [F(1, 92) = 46.27, p < 0.001] and willingness to help [F(1, 92) = 44.66, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: The perception that an individual's behaviour contributed to their injury may lead to stigmatization and its negative consequences. Copyright 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the public's attitudes towards survivors of brain injury in Northern Ireland. RESEARCH DESIGN: Four hypothetical vignettes were constructed to test how the acquisition of a brain injury impacted on people's attitudes. The stories of protagonists that they either acquired their injury through organic (e.g. haemorrhage) means or in some self-initiated (e.g. brawl) behaviour. The gender of the protagonists was varied to examine differences in attitudes to males and females. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Adapted versions of the Prejudicial Evaluation Scale (PES) and Social Interaction Scale (SIS) were administered to 96 university students. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The data was analysed using three 2 x 2 between subjects ANOVAs and showed that there was no significant main effect of gender, a highly significant effect of injury on negative attitudes (F(1, 92) = 68.30, p < 0.001], amount of desired social interaction [F(1, 92) = 46.27, p < 0.001] and willingness to help [F(1, 92) = 44.66, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: The perception that an individual's behaviour contributed to their injury may lead to stigmatization and its negative consequences. Copyright 2004 Taylor and Francis Ltd