Abstract

Introduction. Social attitude is a relatively permanent system of beliefs, emotions, feelings and behaviors in relation to a given object/person, which is the result of interactions that an individual is subjected to throughout their life. The aim of the study was to assess attitudes of upper secondary school students towards people with disabilities.
Materiał i metody. 287 students (122 women and 165 men) were included in the diagnostic survey using the author’s survey and the Scale of Attitudes Towards Disabled People in upper secondary schools. The data were analyzed based on Chi-square test, Mann Whitney U test, ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test, post hoc test for multiple comparisons.
Results. Statistically significant relationships were found between gender and irony and mockery behaviors for people with disabilities (p < 0.001) and participation in actions for the disabled (p < 0.001). Gender differentiated the attitude towards charity actions for the benefit of people with disabilities (p < 0.001), and the type of school diversified attitudes of high school youth towards the disabled (p = 0.003).
Wnioski. Men more often directed irony and mockery at people with disabilities. Women had a better attitude to charity campaigns for the disabled and participate in them more often. High school students had definitely more positive attitudes than representatives of vocational schools and technical secondary schools.

Key words:

social influences, stereotypes, rejection, acceptance, socialization