Attitudes toward Stuttering: A Look at Selected “Helping” Professions

Ann Beste-Guldborg, PhD Nichole Campanale, MS

Review of the Literature: –  Listeners often hold negative views of stuttering and people who stutter (Abdalla &

St. Louis, 2011; Allard & Williams, 2008; Cooper & Cooper, 1996; Klassen, 2001; Mayo, Mayo, Jenkins, & Graves, 2004; Mitchell,

McMahon, & McKee, 2005).

–  Many professionals who interact with, support, and have influence over people

who stutter are among those with negative attitudes

–  Teachers (Abdalla & ST. Louis, 2011; Crowe & Walton, 1981; Irani, Abdalla, & Gabel, 2012)

–  School Administrators (Lass, et al.,1994; Yeakle & Cooper, 1986)

–  Health Care Workers (Silverman & Bongey, 1997; Yairi & Carrico, 1992)

–  Employers (Hurst & Cooper, 1983)

–  Vocab Rehab Counselors (Hurst & Cooper, 1983)

–  SLPs (Lass et al., 1989; Turnbaugh, Guitar, & Hoffman, 1979)

Review of the Literature: –  Some recent investigations have noted a shift in attitudes (Cooper & Cooper, 1996; Klassen 2001;

Swartz, Gabel, & Irani, 2009)

–  Still the stuttering stereotype exists (Bloodstein & Ratner, 2008; White & Collins, 1984)

–  PWS are often characterized by others and by the media as nervous, shy,

frustrated, anxious, un-heroic, tense, weak, reactionary, and guarded (Basshardt,

2006; Burley & Rinaldi, 1986; Gabel, 2006; Johnson, 2008; Swartz, Gabel, Irani, 2009)

Review of Literature: –  What is a stereotype?

–  A stereotype is an exaggerated belief associated with a category, its function is to simplify

complex social information or rationalize conduct in relation to that category (Allport, 1958; Fox,

1992).

–  Stereotypes allow people to have false beliefs, to exclude, to group together, and to diminish

(Crocker, Major, & Steel, 1998; Smart, 2001).

–  Consider the prevalence of media portrayals of PWS as criminals, villains, unintelligent, or

damaged (Basshardt , 2006; Johnson, 1987; Johnson, 2008).

–  Misinformed beliefs affect occupational, educational, and social opportunities (Crocker, Major, &

Steele, 1998; Goffman, 1963; Klein & Hood, 2004; Klompas & Ross, 2004, Yaruss & Quesal, 2004) and can expose PWS to

prejudicial and discriminating attitudes as well as bullying (Boyle, Blood, & Blood, 2009).

So at this time:

–  A current understanding of the beliefs and attitudes toward stuttering and PWS

within various “helping professions” is important.

–  Members of these professions play critical roles in providing support, assistance,

and opportunity for PWS.

–  Their attitudes and actions can have a significant impact on the self-perception of

PWS affecting them personally, socially and professionally (Guitar, 2006; Dorsey & Guenther,

2000; Ezrati-Vinacour & Levin, 2004; Hulit & Wirtz, 1994; Yaruss & Quesal, 2004).

Purpose of the study

–  This study examined the beliefs and perceptions of law enforcement, health care,

mental health, and educational personnel toward stuttering using the Public

Opinion Survey on Human Attributes-Stuttering (POSHA-S).

–  Purpose: to determine current attitudes of people within selected “helping

professions” toward stuttering and PWS as well as to discern any significant

differences between the groups.

–  Results will contribute to the current understanding of public attitudes toward

stuttering and may inform public awareness and educational campaigns.

Research Questions:

–  What are the attitudes of law enforcement, health care, mental health, and

educational personnel toward stuttering and people who stutter?

–  Is there a difference in attitudes between professions?

Method:

–  422 respondents with membership in the health care, mental health, education, and

law enforcement professions were recruited for this study

–  Electronic links sent to 2072 potential respondents from published professional

email lists and listservs. Participants were asked to pass survey on as they saw fit.

–  The Public Opinion Survey on Human Attributes-Stuttering (POSHA-S), a well-

developed, standardized instrument designed to measure public attitudes toward

stuttering (St. Louis, 2011) was used to collect the data.

–  Data coded according to standard POSHA–S procedures and converted to a -100

to +100 scale, where higher scores reflect more positive attitudes & lower scores

reflect more negative attitudes

Demographics: –  Overall response rate was 20.37% Median Age:

–  Mental Health Workers = 98 45

–  Health Care Workers = 101 39

–  Education Personnel = 128 41

–  Law Enforcement Personnel = 95 36

Demographics- (unremarkable) –  Gender: More females responded to the survey (55%) than males (46%) except

law enforcement (80/20%)

–  Age and Education:

The mean age of respondents in this sample was 40.25 years (SD=16.17),

with a range from 18 to 68.

The mean number of years of schooling was 16.94 (SD=2.69)

Mental Health Workers had most education (18.75 years)

Law Enforcement least (15.5 years)

–  Income: Among friends and family (+40.25);

Compared to others in the US (+38.75).

Demographics- Knew a person who stuttered:

–  Mental Health Professionals 80%

–  Health Care Workers 78%

–  Educational Professionals 64%

–  Law Enforcement 53%

**2 respondents reported themselves as a PWS**

Data Analysis: –  Components (clusters of items)

–  Traits/Personality

–  Help,

–  Cause,

–  Potential,

–  Accommodating/Helping,

–  Social Distance/Sympathy,

–  Knowledge/Experience,

–  Knowledge Source

–  Sub-scores (clusters of components)

Beliefs About PWS (BEL) -- Those external to respondent

Self Reactions to PWS (SR) – Those internal to respondent

–  Overall Stuttering Score (OSS) --(mean of the 2 sub-scores)

–  Statistical analysis – Percentages, Means, Standard Deviations, MANOVA

Human attributes

–  Overall respondents had somewhat

negative impressions of people who are

obese, those with mental illness, and

PWS .

–  When asked if they would want to be a

person who was mentally ill, obese, or a

person who stuttered most respondents

showed very negative responses.

–  Respondents knew the least about

people who have stuttering disorders,

followed by mental illness, obesity, and

left-handedness

Results: POSHA-S Human Attributes!

n!M (-100 to

+100)!

SD!

Overall impression of a person

who…! is obese! 422" -14" 94"

is left-handed! 422" 1" 76"

has a stuttering disorder! 422" -21" 82"

is mentally ill! 422" -31" 105"

is intelligent! 422" 55" 88"

I would want to be a person who…! is obese! 422" -82" 85"

is left-handed! 422" -13" 82"

has a stuttering disorder! 422" -86" 90"

is mentally ill! 422" -91" 96"

is intelligent! 422" 71" 96"

The amount I know about a person

who…! is obese! 422" -15" 100"

is left-handed! 422" -9" 106"

has a stuttering disorder! 422" -45" 101"

is mentally ill! 422" -17" 110"

is intelligent! 422" 36" 92"

Know PWS:

– 69% knew someone who stuttered –

–  Mental Health—80

–  Health Care—78

–  Education—64

–  Law Enforcement--53

– 131 respondents did not know a PWS

– 2 respondents reported themselves as a PWS

Results

Following are people I have known

with stuttering disorders….!

n! %!

Nobody   131 31%

Acquaintance   249 59%

Close friend   55 13%

Relative   30 8%

Me   2 0.4%

Other   97 22%

Selected Component Scores

What are the attitudes of law enforcement, health care, mental health, and educational personnel toward stuttering and people who stutter?

POSHA-S Component Scores Overall Sample

Mental Health

Health Care

Education Law Enforcement

Traits/Personality   6   20   1   6   -5  

Help   54   66   51   57   41  

Cause   5   17   7   2   -­‐7  

Potential   55   79   46   60   35  

Accommodating/Helping   12   21   8   18   2  

Social Distance/Sympathy   -­‐4   4   -­‐4   3   -­‐18  

Knowledge/Experience   -­‐7   11   -­‐13   1   -­‐26  

Knowledge Source   5   8   -­‐1   6   7  

What are the attitudes of law enforcement, health care, mental health, and educational personnel toward stuttering and people who stutter? Are there significant differences?

Sub-scores, OMI, & OSS

Implications:

–  Biggest implications is that there is a need for training and education among these

helping professions with regard to stuttering and PWS.

–  The education needs to be aimed at:

–  The “stuttering stereotype”

–  Ways to help

–  Increasing comfortableness

–  Getting accurate information out there

Very important because-- these professionals interact with, support, and have influence over

people who stutter on a regular basis

Limitations of the Study:

–  The small sample size

–  The low response rate

–  Snowball sampling offer

Questions

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