Public knowledge and stigma of autism spectrum disorder: Comparing China with the United States

Yu, Luodi; Stronach, Sheri T.; Harrison, Ashley J.

doi:10.1177/1362361319900839

Cited by 88 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The prevalence estimates of ASD in China differ significantly from those in the West, and the key factor in this difference may be the lack of awareness of ASD in China ( 18 ). Gaps in awareness and knowledge of ASD among child health care workers may lead to delays in diagnosis and intervention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urgency in Improving Child Health Care Workers' Awareness and Knowledge of ASD: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Zhou²,

Liu

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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Objective: To evaluate the levels of awareness and knowledge of ASD among child health care workers in China, we conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study to assess the participants' awareness and knowledge of ASD.Methods: A total of 159 child health care workers from Southwest China participated in the survey and filled out the questionnaire.Descriptive analysis was conducted on the five parts of the questionnaire, including general knowledge, symptomology, screening and diagnosis, and intervention and treatment. Univariate analysis was used to assess impacts of the participants' basic demographic characteristics on the questionnaire scores. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze association of the participants' basic demographic characteristics and the questionnaire scores.Results: Less than 15% of the participants knew that ASD is a developmental, congenital and genetic disorder. Few participants knew that the symptoms include language disorder (38.4%) and social dysfunction (29.6%). A minority of the participants knew the diagnostic criteria (22.6%) and the age for early screening (14.5%). A total of 23.9% of the participants agreed that there are no effective drugs to treat ASD, and 6.3% agreed that ASD is incurable. A number of years in practice of ≥10 (OR = 0.3249, 95% CI: 0.1080–0.9189) was the main factor related to a high questionnaire score.Conclusions: Most participants had relatively low levels of awareness and knowledge of ASD, especially in terms of general knowledge as well as knowledge of intervention and treatment. Working for more than 10 years was a significant predictor of higher levels of awareness and knowledge of ASD. ASD-related training and knowledge dissemination are crucial for the early diagnosis and intervention of ASD. Child health care workers' awareness and knowledge of ASD needs to be improved to help build public awareness about ASD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urgency in Improving Child Health Care Workers' Awareness and Knowledge of ASD: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Zhou²,

Liu

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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“…Independence and autonomy are less valued in collectivist versus individualist cultures. In addition, other cultural factors, such as stigma, which exists in Western cultures ( Green, 2003 ; Kinnear et al, 2016 ; Yu et al, 2020 ) but has been reported to be particularly salient in a number of Asian cultures due to the association with shame and dishonor ( Hwang & Charnley, 2010 ; Mak & Cheung, 2008 ; Mak & Kwok, 2010 ; Zhou et al, 2018 ), may be a powerful predictor of FQOL. In confronting adversity, the concept of resilience may be valid in both Western and Korean cultures and may be potentially valuable when attempting to assess how the family navigates between personal experience with ASD and cultural beliefs about ASD ( Hwang & Charnley, 2010 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-cultural perspectives on the meaning of family quality of life: Comparing Korean immigrant families and Canadian families of children with autism spectrum disorder

Fong

Gardiner

Iarocci

2021

Autism

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This study sought to examine and compare conceptualizations and descriptions of family quality of life, from the perspectives of Korean immigrant and Canadian families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews from 13 Korean immigrant parents and 12 Canadian parents of children with autism living in BC, Canada was conducted. For Korean immigrant families, three themes were identified: family cohesiveness, value orientation, and acceptance from society. For Canadian families, themes comprising family interactions, support, emotional well-being, individual characteristics, and comparisons to other families were essential elements in defining their family quality of life. Findings highlight how cultural values and differences may translate into different conceptualizations of family quality of life and underscore the need for cross-cultural and diverse perspectives in the study and development of future assessment tools. Lay abstract The purpose of this study was to compare Korean immigrant families and Canadian families of children with autism in their perceptions and definitions of family quality of life. Interviews were done with 13 Korean immigrant parents and 12 Canadian parents of children with autism living in BC, Canada. For Korean immigrant families, three themes were identified: family cohesiveness, value orientation, and acceptance from society. For Canadian families, themes comprising family interactions, support, emotional well-being, individual characteristics, and comparisons to other families were essential elements in defining their family quality of life. The findings emphasize how differences in culture may impact how we understand and assess family functioning and quality of life. If research informing the development of these tools lacks cross-cultural perspectives, service providers and professionals may fail to address these families’ unique needs.

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“…Crucially, all these efforts should be grounded in a cohesive ideology that does not solely focus on impairment and deficits but recognises the strengths and potential of autistic individuals alongside the very real needs that they may have. While autism stigma is not a problem unique to Singapore (Liao et al, 2019;Yu et al, 2020), our participants' responses suggest that Singapore may be lagging behind in the global movement away from a pure medical model of disability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

A qualitative study of autism services and supports in Singapore: Perspectives of service providers, autistic adults and caregivers

Han

Tan

Crane³

et al. 2021

Autism

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The lifelong and complex nature of autism necessitates an array of services and supports spanning across different sectors and providers at different life stages of an autistic individual. However, research has shown that autistic individuals and their families often experience barriers accessing the autism-related services and supports that they need. This is the first qualitative study to explore the provision and coordination of autism services and supports in Singapore from the perspectives of service providers, autistic adults and caregivers. Semi-structured interviews with 21 participants revealed three main themes: (1) improving access to autism-specific services, (2) creating flexible supports in an inclusive environment and (3) addressing stigma and changing societal attitudes. Our findings suggest that Singapore may have achieved rapid growth in autism services, but broader social structures may be slower to change. To better support autistic individuals in society, autistic voices need to be amplified and a collective effort is needed to achieve a paradigm shift from impairment to capability. Lay abstract Because autism is a lifelong and complex condition, autistic people may need a range of supports cutting across different sectors (e.g. health, education and social care) at different stages of their lives. Studies in some countries have shown that autistic people and their families face difficulties accessing the services they need, but no research has been done on this topic in Singapore. To start addressing this gap, we interviewed 21 service providers, autistic adults and caregivers/parents of autistic children to find out their perceptions and experiences of autism services and supports in Singapore. Our participants told us that beyond improving access to autism-specific services, they also hoped to see more flexible supports in an inclusive environment and a broader change in societal attitudes. This study highlights that autism service provision should be informed by autistic voices and not only focus on impairment but also recognise the strengths of autistic people alongside their very real needs. The whole of society – including policymakers, professionals, employers, educators, families and autistic people themselves – needs to work together to fight autism stigma and discrimination.

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Public knowledge and stigma of autism spectrum disorder: Comparing China with the United States

Cited by 88 publications

References 41 publications

Urgency in Improving Child Health Care Workers' Awareness and Knowledge of ASD: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Urgency in Improving Child Health Care Workers' Awareness and Knowledge of ASD: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest China

Cross-cultural perspectives on the meaning of family quality of life: Comparing Korean immigrant families and Canadian families of children with autism spectrum disorder

A qualitative study of autism services and supports in Singapore: Perspectives of service providers, autistic adults and caregivers

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