Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes
Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine
Eastern European Countries

J 2026

Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Eastern European Countries

SZPAKOW, Andriej; Liudmila VILCHYNSKAYA; Jana JUŘÍKOVÁ; Andrea POKORNÁ; Olha FEDORTSIV et al.

Základní údaje

Originální název

Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Eastern European Countries

Autoři

Vydání

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-HEIDELBERG, HEIDELBERG, SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, 2026, 2198-1833

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Stát vydavatele

Německo

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

URL

Impakt faktor

Impact factor: 1.600 v roce 2024

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Organizační jednotka

Fakulta sportovních studií

Klíčová slova anglicky

University students; Wheelchair users; Disability attitudes; Social inclusion; Eastern Europe; Cross-sectional study

Štítky

14110611, podil

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 10. 3. 2026 09:04, Mgr. Tereza Miškechová

Anotace

V originále

Background Public attitudes toward people with disabilities (PwD) shape inclusion, healthcare access, and social participation. Although attitudes have improved, stereotypes and implicit biases persist. Intergroup contact is linked to more positive attitudes, yet its frequency and quality vary. In Eastern Europe, the ongoing war in Ukraine may directly or indirectly influence disability-related attitudes, as mobility impairments increase and societal exposure to disability changes. Methods We conducted a multi-country cross-sectional study of 8593 university students from nine Eastern European countries using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS). We assessed cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of attitudes, alongside sociodemographic factors and contact with wheelchair users. Nonparametric tests and Spearman's rho were used to examine between-country differences and correlates. Higher MAS scores indicate more negative attitudes. Results MAS global and subscale scores differed significantly across countries. More frequent and higher-quality contact with wheelchair users was associated with less negative attitudes, though effect sizes were generally small. Several sociodemographic variables (e.g., gender, place of upbringing, field of study, religiosity) showed significant, albeit modest, associations with MAS subscales. Cross-national variation was pronounced: global MAS means ranged from 74.3 +/- 18.2 (Ukraine) to 92.3 +/- 16.6 (Serbia), with a significant between-country effect (Kruskal-Wallis H = 650, p < 0.001). Conclusions Cross-national differences in students' attitudes toward wheelchair users are substantial and broadly consistent with intergroup contact theory. In conflict-affected settings (e.g., Ukraine), rising visibility of disability and shifting contact patterns may further influence attitudes. Interventions that foster meaningful, high-quality contact and inclusive practices in educational environments may help mitigate negative attitudes and promote social inclusion.

Citovat

SZPAKOW, Andriej; Liudmila VILCHYNSKAYA; Jana JUŘÍKOVÁ; Andrea POKORNÁ; Olha FEDORTSIV; Jan KARCZEWSKI; Lucia Demjanovic KENDROVA; Lubica BANOVCINOVA; Radenko MATIC; Ivana MILOVANOVIC; Brigita BANJAC; Ilknur Aydin AVCI; Mesiya AYDIN; Yasemin YALCIN; Rafal MODZELEWSKI; Krystyna KOWALCZUK; Yelena LOGINOVICH; Jozef BABECKA; Joanna BAJ-KORPAK; Milena MITROVIC; Stevo POPOVIC a Anna KNYSZYNSKA. Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Eastern European Countries. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-HEIDELBERG. HEIDELBERG: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, 2026, 13 s. ISSN 2198-1833. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02650-7.

@article{2539624,
   author = {Szpakow, Andriej and Vilchynskaya, Liudmila and Juříková, Jana and POKORNÁ, Andrea and Fedortsiv, Olha and Karczewski, Jan and Kendrova, Lucia Demjanovic and Banovcinova, Lubica and Matic, Radenko and Milovanovic, Ivana and Banjac, Brigita and Avci, Ilknur Aydin and Aydin, Mesiya and Yalcin, Yasemin and Modzelewski, Rafal and Kowalczuk, Krystyna and Loginovich, Yelena and Babecka, Jozef and BajandKorpak, Joanna and Mitrovic, Milena and Popovic, Stevo and Knyszynska, Anna},
   article_location = {HEIDELBERG},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02650-7},
   keywords = {University students; Wheelchair users; Disability attitudes; Social inclusion; Eastern Europe; Cross-sectional study},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2198-1833},
   journal = {JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-HEIDELBERG},
   title = {Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Eastern European Countries},
   url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10389-025-02650-7},
   year = {2026}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2539624
AU  - Szpakow, Andriej - Vilchynskaya, Liudmila - Juříková, Jana - POKORNÁ, Andrea - Fedortsiv, Olha - Karczewski, Jan - Kendrova, Lucia Demjanovic - Banovcinova, Lubica - Matic, Radenko - Milovanovic, Ivana - Banjac, Brigita - Avci, Ilknur Aydin - Aydin, Mesiya - Yalcin, Yasemin - Modzelewski, Rafal - Kowalczuk, Krystyna - Loginovich, Yelena - Babecka, Jozef - Baj-Korpak, Joanna - Mitrovic, Milena - Popovic, Stevo - Knyszynska, Anna
PY  - 2026
TI  - Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Eastern European Countries
JF  - JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-HEIDELBERG
PB  - SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
SN  - 21981833
KW  - University students
KW  - Wheelchair users
KW  - Disability attitudes
KW  - Social inclusion
KW  - Eastern Europe
KW  - Cross-sectional study
UR  - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10389-025-02650-7
N2  - Background Public attitudes toward people with disabilities (PwD) shape inclusion, healthcare access, and social participation. Although attitudes have improved, stereotypes and implicit biases persist. Intergroup contact is linked to more positive attitudes, yet its frequency and quality vary. In Eastern Europe, the ongoing war in Ukraine may directly or indirectly influence disability-related attitudes, as mobility impairments increase and societal exposure to disability changes. Methods We conducted a multi-country cross-sectional study of 8593 university students from nine Eastern European countries using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS). We assessed cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of attitudes, alongside sociodemographic factors and contact with wheelchair users. Nonparametric tests and Spearman's rho were used to examine between-country differences and correlates. Higher MAS scores indicate more negative attitudes. Results MAS global and subscale scores differed significantly across countries. More frequent and higher-quality contact with wheelchair users was associated with less negative attitudes, though effect sizes were generally small. Several sociodemographic variables (e.g., gender, place of upbringing, field of study, religiosity) showed significant, albeit modest, associations with MAS subscales. Cross-national variation was pronounced: global MAS means ranged from 74.3 +/- 18.2 (Ukraine) to 92.3 +/- 16.6 (Serbia), with a significant between-country effect (Kruskal-Wallis H = 650, p < 0.001). Conclusions Cross-national differences in students' attitudes toward wheelchair users are substantial and broadly consistent with intergroup contact theory. In conflict-affected settings (e.g., Ukraine), rising visibility of disability and shifting contact patterns may further influence attitudes. Interventions that foster meaningful, high-quality contact and inclusive practices in educational environments may help mitigate negative attitudes and promote social inclusion.
ER  -

SZPAKOW, Andriej; Liudmila VILCHYNSKAYA; Jana JUŘÍKOVÁ; Andrea POKORNÁ; Olha FEDORTSIV; Jan KARCZEWSKI; Lucia Demjanovic KENDROVA; Lubica BANOVCINOVA; Radenko MATIC; Ivana MILOVANOVIC; Brigita BANJAC; Ilknur Aydin AVCI; Mesiya AYDIN; Yasemin YALCIN; Rafal MODZELEWSKI; Krystyna KOWALCZUK; Yelena LOGINOVICH; Jozef BABECKA; Joanna BAJ-KORPAK; Milena MITROVIC; Stevo POPOVIC a Anna KNYSZYNSKA. Sociodemographic Determinants of University Students' Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nine Eastern European Countries. \textit{JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-HEIDELBERG}. HEIDELBERG: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, 2026, 13 s. ISSN~2198-1833. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02650-7.

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