Skip to main content

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Knowledge and Stigma Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Among College Students in Lebanon and the United States

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 45, pages 3520–3536 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Although misconceptions associated with ASD are apparent worldwide, they may differ across cultures. This study compares knowledge and stigma associated with ASD in a country with limited autism resources, Lebanon, and a country with substantial autism resources, the United States (US). College students in the US (N = 346) and Lebanon (N = 329) completed assessments of knowledge and stigma associated with ASD before and after an online ASD training. Although students in the US exhibited higher overall knowledge and lower stigma towards ASD, certain misconceptions were more apparent in the US than in Lebanon. Participation in the training was associated with decreased stigma and increased knowledge in both countries. Thus, online training may be useful for increasing understanding about ASD internationally.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Notes

  1. In the full non-age-matched sample, US students more often reported having a friend with ASD compared to Lebanese students, p = .001.

  2. All statistical analyses were tested for assumptions. The following variables did not meet the proportional odds assumption of ordinal regression: importance of helping people with autism appear more normal, children with autism show attachment, and children with autism can grow up to go to college and marry. However, this assumption is violated fairly frequently (Long and Freese 2006) and similar patterns of significance were observed with non-parametric analyses.

  3. This finding was also not significant (p = .04) in the larger sample that was not age-matched.

  4. In the full-sample, Lebanese students were also less likely to agree that ASD is a lifelong disability, p < .001.

References

  • Abdullah, T., & Brown, T. L. (2011). Mental illness stigma and ethnocultural beliefs, values, and norms: An integrative review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 934–948. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.05.003.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Farsi, Y. M., Al-Sharbati, M. M., Al-Farsi, O. A., Al-Shafaee, M. S., Brooks, D. R., & Waly, M. I. (2011). Brief report: Prevalence of Autistic spectrum disorders in the sultanate of Oman. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(6), 821–825. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1094-8.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alqahtani, M. M. (2012). Understanding autism in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative analysis of the community and cultural context. Journal of Pediatric Neurology, 10(1), 15–22. doi:10.3233/JPN-2012-0527.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayyash-Abdo, H. (2001). Individualism and collectivism: The case of Lebanon. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 29(5), 503–518. doi:10.2224/sbp.2001.29.5.503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azar, M., & Badr, L. K. (2006). The adaptation of mothers of children with intellectual disability in Lebanon. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 17(4), 375–380. doi:10.1177/1043659606291550.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakare, M. O., Ebigbo, P. O., Agomoh, A. O., Eaton, J., Onyeama, G. M., Okonkwo, K. O., et al. (2009). Knowledge about childhood autism and opinion among healthcare workers on availability of facilities and law caring for the needs and rights of children with childhood autism and other developmental disorders in Nigeria. BMC Pediatrics,. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-9-12.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barnhill, G. P. (2014). Supporting students with Asperger Syndrome on college campuses: Current practices. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities,. doi:10.1177/1088357614523121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, malesand females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17. doi:10.1023/A:1005653411471.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basabe, N., & Ros, M. (2005). Cultural dimensions and social behavior correlates: Individualism-collectivism and power distance. International Review of Social Psychology, 18(1), 189–225. Retrieved from http://www.newunionism.net/library/workplace%20democracy/Basabe%20and%20Ros%20-%20Individualism-Collectivism%20and%20Power%20Distance%20-%202005.pdf.

  • Baxter, A. J., Brugha, T. S., Erskine, H. E., Scheurer, R. W., Vos, T., & Scott, J. G. (2014). The epidemiology and global burden of autism spectrum disorders. Psychological Medicine,. doi:10.1017/S003329171400172X.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilgin, H., & Kucuk, L. (2010). Raising an autistic child: Perspectives from Turkish mothers. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(2), 92–99. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6171.2010.00228.x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogardus, E. S. (1933). A social distance scale. Sociology & Social Research, 17, 265–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, R. C., & Gillis, J. M. (2011). The impact of labels and behaviors on the stigmatization of adults with Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(6), 741–749. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1093-9.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. M. (2007). Middle school students’ response to the self-introduction of a student with autism: Effects of perceived similarity, prior awareness, and educational message. Remedial and Special Education, 28(3), 163–173. doi:10.1177/07419325070280030501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. M., & Barger, B. D. (2014). Peers’ knowledge about and attitudes towards students with autism spectrum disorders. In V. B. Patel, V. R. Preedy, & C. R. Martin (Eds.), Comprehensive Guide to Autism (pp. 247–261). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. M., Morton, J. F., Roulston, K., & Barger, B. D. (2011). A descriptive analysis of middle school students’ conceptions of autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 23(5), 377–397. doi:10.1007/s10882-011-9234-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. G., Reichle, N. C., & Van Bourgondien, M. E. (1996). The autism survey: An evaluation of reliability and validity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 26(6), 621–634. doi:10.1007/BF02172351.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambres, P., Auxiette, C., Vansingle, C., & Gil, S. (2008). Adult attitudes toward behaviors of a six-year-old boy with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(7), 1320–1327. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0519-5.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chown, N. (2010). ‘Do you have any difficulties that I may not be aware of? A study of autism awareness and understanding in the UK police service. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 12(2), 256–273. doi:10.1350/ijps.2010.12.2.174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P., Markowitz, F. E., Watson, A., Rowan, D., & Kubiak, M. A. (2003). An attribution model of public discrimination towards persons with mental illness. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 162–179. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1519806.

  • Corrigan, P. W., & Penn, D. L. (1999). Lessons from social psychology on discrediting psychiatric stigma. American Psychologist 54, 765–776. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1519806.

  • Daley, T. C. (2002). The need for cross-cultural research on the pervasive developmental disorders. Transcultural Psychiatry, 39(4), 531–550. doi:10.1177/136346150203900409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daou, N. (2014). Conducting behavioral research with children attending nonbehavioral intervention programs for autism: The case of Lebanon. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 7, 78–90. doi:10.1007/s40617-014-0017-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dehnavi, S. R., Malekpour, M., Faramarzi, S., & Talebi, H. (2011). The share of internalized stigma and autism quotient in predicting the mental health of mothers with autism children in Iran. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(20), 251–259. http://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_20_November_2011/27.pdf.

  • Dillenburger, K., Jordan, J. A., McKerr, L., Devine, P., & Keenan, M. (2013). Awareness and knowledge of autism and autism interventions: A general population survey. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(12), 1558–1567. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2013.09.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Divan, G., Vajaratkar, V., Desai, M. U., Strik-Lievers, L., & Patel, V. (2012). Challenges, coping strategies, and unmet needs of families with a child with autism spectrum disorder in Goa, India. Autism Research, 5, 190–200. doi:10.1002/aur.1225.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Draaisma, D. (2009). Stereotypes of autism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1522), 1475–1480. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durkin, M. S., Maenner, M. J., Meaney, F. J., Levy, S. E., DiGuiseppi, C., Nicholas, J. S., et al. (2010). Socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from a US cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 5(7), e11551. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011551.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eapen, V., Mabrouk, A. A., Zoubeidi, T., & Yunis, F. (2007). Prevalence of pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children in the UAE. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 53(3), 202–205. doi:10.1093/tropej/fml091.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., & Lennon, R. (1983). Sex differences in empathy and related capacities. Psychological Bulletin, 94(1), 101–131. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.94.1.100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elsabbagh, M., Divan, G., Koh, Y. J., Kim, Y. S., Kauchali, S., Marcín, C., et al. (2012). Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Research, 5(3), 160–179. doi:10.1002/aur.239.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fayers, P. (2011). Alphas, betas and skewy distributions: Two ways of getting the wrong answer. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 16(3), 291–296. doi:10.1007/s10459-011-9283-6.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleischer, A. S. (2012). Support to students with Asperger syndrome in higher education—the perspectives of three relatives and three coordinators. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 35(1), 54–61. doi:10.1097/MRR.0b013e32834f4d3b.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner, E., & Iarocci, G. (2014). Students with autism spectrum disorder in the university context: Peer acceptance predicts intention to volunteer. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(5), 1008–1017. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1950-4.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gelbar, N. W., Smith, I., & Reichow, B. (2014). Systematic review of articles describing experience and supports of individuals with autism enrolled in college and university programs. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1–9. doi: 10.1007/s10803-014-2135-5.

  • Gillespie-Lynch, K., Brooks, P. J., Someki, F., Obeid, R., Shane-Simpson, C., Kapp, S. K., et al. (2015). Changing college students’ conceptions of autism: An online training to increase knowledge and decrease stigma. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2422-9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, D. E. (1993). Perceptions of stigma: The parents of autistic children. Sociology of Health & Illness, 15(1), 102–120. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.ep11343802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, D. E. (2002). ‘Everybody just freezes. Everybody is just embarrassed’: Felt and enacted stigma among parents of children with high functioning autism. Sociology of Health & Illness, 24(6), 734–749. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.00316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield, P. M. (2009). Linking social change and developmental change: Shifting pathways of human development. Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 401–418. doi:10.1037/a0014726.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grinker, R. R., & Cho, K. (2013). Border children: Interpreting autism spectrum disorder in South Korea. Ethos, 41(1), 46–74. doi:10.1111/etho.12002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grinker, R. R., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., & Boyle, C. (2011). Culture and autism spectrum disorders: The impact on prevalence and recognition. In D. G. Amaral, G. Dawson, & D. H. Geschwind (Eds.), Autism spectrum disorders (pp. 112–136). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Heidgerken, A. D., Geffken, G., Modi, A., & Frakey, L. (2005). A survey of autism knowledge in a healthcare setting. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(3), 323–330. doi:10.1007/s10803-005-3298-x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helps, S., Newsom-Davis, I. C., & Callias, M. (1999). Autism: The Teacher’s View. Autism, 3(3), 287–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, E. P., Corrigan, P. W., Williams, P., Canar, J., & Kubiak, M. A. (1999). Changing attitudes about schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 25(3), 447–456. http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org.ezproxy.gc.cuny.edu/content/25/3/447.full.pdf.

  • Holt, J. M., & Christensen, K. M. (2013). Utahns’ understanding of autism spectrum disorder. Disability and Health Journal, 6(1), 52–62. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2012.08.002.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, N., & Lewis, S. (2008). ‘Make me normal’: The views and experiences of pupils on the autistic spectrum in mainstream secondary schools. Autism, 12(1), 23–46. doi:10.1177/1362361307085267.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurley, R. S., Losh, M., Parlier, M., Reznick, J. S., & Piven, J. (2007). The broad Autism phenotype questionnaire. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(9), 1679–1690. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0299-3.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussein, H., & Taha, G. R. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders: A review of the literature from Arab countries. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 20(3), 106–116. doi:10.1097/01.XME.0000430433.49160.a4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huws, J. C., & Jones, R. S. (2011). Missing voices: Representations of autism in British newspapers, 1999–2008. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(2), 98–104. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3156.2010.00624.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, S. K., & Charnley, H. (2010). Making the familiar strange and making the strange familiar: Understanding Korean children’s experiences of living with an autistic sibling. Disability & Society, 25(5), 579–592. doi:10.1080/09687599.2010.489305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igwe, M. N., Bakare, M. O., Agomoh, A. O., Onyeama, G. M., & Okonkwo, K. O. (2010). Research Factors influencing knowledge about childhood autism among final year undergraduate Medical, Nursing and Psychology students of University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 36, 44–50. http://www.ijponline.net/content/36/1/44.

  • Imran, N., Chaudry, M. R., Azeem, M. W., Bhatti, M. R., Choudhary, Z. I., & Cheema, M. A. (2011). A survey of Autism knowledge and attitudes among the healthcare professionals in Lahore. Pakistan. BMC Pediatrics, 11(1), 107. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-11-107.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson, S. (2004). Likert scales: How to (ab) use them. Medical Education, 38(12), 1217–1218. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2929.2004.02012.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jegatheesan, B., Miller, P. J., & Fowler, S. A. (2010). Autism from a religious perspective: A study of parental beliefs in South Asian Muslim immigrant families. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25, 98–100. doi:10.1177/1088357610361344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, H. M., & Levine, T. P. (2014). Health care and services for individuals with ASDs: Disparities and transitions. In V. B. Patel, V. R. Preedy, & C. R. Martin (Eds.), Comprehensive Guide to Autism (pp. 1195–1217). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kapp, S. K., Gillespie-Lynch, K., Sherman, L. E., & Hutman, T. (2013). Deficit, difference, or both? Autism and neurodiversity. Developmental Psychology, 49(1), 59–71. doi:10.1037/a0028353.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharti, G. K., Onta, S. R., Tiwari, S., & Choulagai, B. P. (2011). Knowledge and management practices of pediatricians about autism spectrum disorder in Kathmandu Nepal. Journal of Nepal Pediatric Society, 31(2), 98–104. doi:10.3126/jnps.v31i2.4640.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, T., Tachimori, H., Sawamura, K., Koyama, A., Naganuma, Y., Makino, H., & Takeshima, T. (2008). Mental health literacy of autism spectrum disorders in the Japanese general population. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 44(8), 651–657. doi:10.1007/s00127-008-0485-z.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ling, C. Y., Mak, W. W., & Cheng, J. N. (2010). Attribution model of stigma towards children with autism in Hong Kong. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(3), 237–249. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3148.2008.00456.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B. G., Struening, E. L., Neese-Todd, S., Asmussen, S., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Stigma as a barrier to recovery: The consequences of stigma for the self-esteem of people with mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services, 52(12), 1621–1626. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.52.12.1621.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. S., & Freese, J. (2006). Regression models for categorical dependent variables using Stata. College Station, TX: Stata press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, D. (2008). College students’ attitudes toward individuals with autism. Dissertation Abstracts International, 68(11-B), 7672.

  • Mandell, D. S., Wiggins, L. D., Carpenter, L. A., Daniels, J., DiGuiseppi, C., Durkin, M. S., et al. (2009). Racial/ethnic disparities in the identification of children with autism spectrum disorders. American Journal of Public Health, 99(3), 493–498. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.131243.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224–253. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.98.2.224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Worley, J. A., Fodstad, J. C., Chung, K. M., Suh, D., Jhin, H. K., et al. (2011). A multinational study examining the cross cultural differences in reported symptoms of autism spectrum disorders: Israel, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(4), 1598–1604. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2011.03.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, D., Yoo, S. H., & Fontaine, J. (2008). Mapping expressive differences around the world the relationship between emotional display rules and individualism versus collectivism. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 39(1), 55–74. doi:10.1177/0022022107311854.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, N. L., Ly, A. R., & Goldberg, W. A. (2014). College Students’ Perceptions of Peers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1–10. doi: 10.1007/s10803-014-2195-6.

  • Mirza, I., Tareen, A., Davidson, L. L., & Rahman, A. (2009). Community management of intellectual disabilities in Pakistan: A mixed methods study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(6), 559–570. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01176.x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagata, K. (2008). Disability and development: Is the rights model of disability valid in the Arab region? An evidence-based field survey in Lebanon and Jordan. Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, 19 (1), 60–78. http://civicagenda.org/cskc/sites/default/files/resources/diability_lebanon_jordan.pdf.

  • Nevill, R. E., & White, S. W. (2011). College students’ openness toward autism spectrum disorders: Improving peer acceptance. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(12), 1619–1628. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1189-x.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman, G. (2010). Likert scales, levels of measurement and the “laws” of statistics. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 15(5), 625–632. doi:10.1007/s10459-010-9222-y.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • OARC (2012) National Institute of Mental Health and Thomson Reuters, Inc. on behalf of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). IACC/OARC Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Publications Analysis Report: The Global Landscape of Autism Research. 2012. Retrieved from the Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee website: http://iacc.hhs.gov/publications-analysis/july2012/index.shtml.

  • Obeid, R., & Daou, N. (2015). The effects of coping styles, social support, and behavioral problems on the well-being of mothers of children with Autism spectrum disorders in Lebanon. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 10, 59–70. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2014.11.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulos, C., Foster, J., & Caldwell, K. (2013). ‘Individualism-collectivism’ as an explanatory device for mental illness stigma. Community Mental Health Journal, 49(3), 270–280.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Probst, P. (1998). Child health related cognitions of parents with autistic children: A cross-national exploratory study. Family and Family Therapy in International Perspective, 461–483.

  • Ravindran, N., & Myers, B. J. (2012). Cultural influences on perceptions of health, illness, and disability: A review and focus on autism. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 21(2), 311–319. doi:10.1007/s10826-011-9477-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarrett, J. C. (2011). Trapped children: Popular images of children with autism in the 1960s and 2000s. Journal of Medical Humanities, 32(2), 141–153. doi:10.1007/s10912-010-9135-z.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, K. (2001). What do medical students know about autism? Autism, 5(2), 127–133.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shtayermman, O. (2009). An exploratory study of the stigma associated with a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome: The mental health impact on the adolescents and young adults diagnosed with a disability with a social nature. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 19(3), 298–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spooner, B. (1970). The evil eye in the Middle East. In M. Douglas (Ed.), Witchcraft confessions and accusations (pp. 311–320). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, W. L. (1987). Cross-disciplinary perspectives on autism. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 12(4), 615–630. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/12.4.615.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaim, K. F., & Morgan, S. B. (2001). Child’en’s attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a peer with autistic behaviors: Does a brief educational intervention have an effect? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(2), 195–205. doi:10.1023/A:1010703316365.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taha, G. R., & Hussein, H. (2014). Autism spectrum disorders in developing countries: Lessons from the Arab World. In V. B. Patel, V. R. Preedy, & C. R. Martin (Eds.), Comprehensive guide to Autism (pp. 2509–2531). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tipton, L. A., & Blacher, J. (2014). Brief report: Autism awareness: Views from a campus community. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(2), 477–483. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1893-9.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Bergeijk, E., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2008). Supporting more able students on the autism spectrum: College and beyond. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(7), 1359–1370. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0524-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Zhou, X., Xia, W., Sun, C., Wu, L., & Wang, J. (2012). Autism awareness and attitudes towards treatment in caregivers of children aged 3–6 years in Harbin China. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 47(8), 1301–1308. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0569-7.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, S. W., Ollendick, T. H., & Bray, B. C. (2011). College students on the autism spectrum: Prevalence and associated problems. Autism, 15, 683–702. doi:10.1177/1362361310393363.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigley, C. J. (2013). Dispelling three myths about Likert scales in communication trait research. Communication Research Reports, 30(4), 366–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the people who participated in this training and contributed their insights to this paper. We are grateful to Fumio Someki, Steven Kapp, Christopher Cruz-Cullari, Dennis Bublitz and Joanne D’Onofrio for feedback on study materials. We thank David Rindskopf and Seamus Donnelly for their statistical consultation. The last author initially conceived of this study, played a guiding role throughout the course of the study and contributed substantially to the writing of this manuscript. This study was funded by CUNY Project REACH (Resources and Education on Autism as CUNY’s Hallmark) and the Far Fund.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY, USA

    Rita Obeid, Danielle DeNigris, Christina Shane-Simpson, Patricia J. Brooks & Kristen Gillespie-Lynch

  2. Department of Psychology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Nidal Daou

Authors
  1. Rita Obeid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nidal Daou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Danielle DeNigris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christina Shane-Simpson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Patricia J. Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rita Obeid.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Obeid, R., Daou, N., DeNigris, D. et al. A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Knowledge and Stigma Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Among College Students in Lebanon and the United States. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 3520–3536 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2499-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2499-1

Keywords

  • Stigma
  • Knowledge
  • ASD
  • Online training
  • Cross-cultural
  • Lebanon