Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia
The attitudes of students without disabilities toward their peers with disabilities are considered an important determinant of successful inclusion in physical education settings. Nonetheless, there is limited research on this topic in non-Western societies, especially in Arab contexts. Thus, to add...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/580 |
| _version_ | 1827750494030790656 |
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| author | Majed M. Alhumaid |
| author_facet | Majed M. Alhumaid |
| author_sort | Majed M. Alhumaid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The attitudes of students without disabilities toward their peers with disabilities are considered an important determinant of successful inclusion in physical education settings. Nonetheless, there is limited research on this topic in non-Western societies, especially in Arab contexts. Thus, to address this paucity in the literature, this study aimed to assess the general attitudes of Saudi students without disabilities towards their peers with disabilities and examine the associations between selected student-related variables (e.g., gender, age, type of school, school location, having a family member or a friend or a classmate with a disability, and having experience of playing with a person with a disability) and attitudes of students without disabilities. A total of 972 students aged 9–12 years old (M<sub>age</sub> = 10.6; SD = 1.1; girls = 49.7%) completed the Arabic version of the Scale of Attitudes toward Students with Disabilities in Physical Education—Primary Education (SASDPE-PE). Data analysis indicated that, in general, participants reported positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in physical education classes. Despite boys being more likely to hold positive attitudes than girls, no significant difference between them existed. The results showed that 10-year-old participants reported more significantly positive attitudes than those in the other age groups. Participants attending public schools reported more significant positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in physical education classes compared to those attending private schools. Having a friend with a disability was linked to students without disabilities having positive attitudes towards their peers with disabilities. In contrast, having a family member or a classmate with disabilities and having played with a person with a disability were not related to such positive attitudes. The current study’s findings have significant implications for inclusive educational practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:43:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d85a46b3a0f4b22a57358bd8cffc068 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:43:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d85a46b3a0f4b22a57358bd8cffc0682023-11-17T10:22:17ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-03-0110358010.3390/children10030580Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi ArabiaMajed M. Alhumaid0Department of Physical Education, College of Education, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi ArabiaThe attitudes of students without disabilities toward their peers with disabilities are considered an important determinant of successful inclusion in physical education settings. Nonetheless, there is limited research on this topic in non-Western societies, especially in Arab contexts. Thus, to address this paucity in the literature, this study aimed to assess the general attitudes of Saudi students without disabilities towards their peers with disabilities and examine the associations between selected student-related variables (e.g., gender, age, type of school, school location, having a family member or a friend or a classmate with a disability, and having experience of playing with a person with a disability) and attitudes of students without disabilities. A total of 972 students aged 9–12 years old (M<sub>age</sub> = 10.6; SD = 1.1; girls = 49.7%) completed the Arabic version of the Scale of Attitudes toward Students with Disabilities in Physical Education—Primary Education (SASDPE-PE). Data analysis indicated that, in general, participants reported positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in physical education classes. Despite boys being more likely to hold positive attitudes than girls, no significant difference between them existed. The results showed that 10-year-old participants reported more significantly positive attitudes than those in the other age groups. Participants attending public schools reported more significant positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in physical education classes compared to those attending private schools. Having a friend with a disability was linked to students without disabilities having positive attitudes towards their peers with disabilities. In contrast, having a family member or a classmate with disabilities and having played with a person with a disability were not related to such positive attitudes. The current study’s findings have significant implications for inclusive educational practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/580inclusive physical educationintegrated physical educationchildrendisabilityspecial needsinclusion |
| spellingShingle | Majed M. Alhumaid Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia Children inclusive physical education integrated physical education children disability special needs inclusion |
| title | Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Primary Students’ Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | primary students attitudes towards peers with disabilities in physical education in saudi arabia |
| topic | inclusive physical education integrated physical education children disability special needs inclusion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/580 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT majedmalhumaid primarystudentsattitudestowardspeerswithdisabilitiesinphysicaleducationinsaudiarabia |