The Feeling of Stigma in the Families of Persons with Developmental Disabilities : An International Comparative Study in Japan, Denmark, and the US
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概要
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The objectives of this study were to clarify the present state and problems of families with developmental disabilities by comparing the feeling of stigma experienced by the families in Japan, Denmark, and the United States, and to pursue methods to achieve normalization in Japan. The surveys were performed using the same questionnaire, which was distributed and recovered in October, 1996 in Japan, in June, 1997 in Denmark, and in August, 1998 in the United States. In Japan, a total of 3,000 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, 1,841 were recovered with a recovery rate of 61.4%, and 1,837 responses were valid. In Denmark, 135 copies were distributed, 56 were recovered with a recovery rate of 41.5%, and the number of valid responses was 56. In the United States, 100 copies were distributed, 46 were recovered with a recovery rate of 46%, and the number of valid responses was 46. The following are primary results of the questionnaire. The percentage of the respondents who felt "inadequate" for having persons with developmental disabilities in their families were 68.6% in Japan, 5.3% in Denmark, and 41.3% in the United States. The percentage of those who felt that "the society is cold to people with developmental disabilities" were 66.7%, 3.6%, and 67.4%, respectively. The percentage of those who felt that the society has prejudice against developmental disabilities were 81.4%, 7.0%, and 80.4%, respectively. Also, the percentage of those who felt "anxiety over the future" were 93.6%, 16.3%, and 71.8%, respectively. These results suggest that, despite differences in the cultural background and social systems, the feeling of stigma experienced by the families of individuals with developmental disabilities is strong in Japan and the United States but weak in Denmark. Also, the results of this survey reveal the following problems in Japan. 1) The families are informed of their children's developmental disabilities too late. 2) Social support systems for families having members with developmental disabilities are inadequate, therefore longer time is needed for them to accept the disabilities after notification. 3) The manner of notification of developmental disabilities to the families (when, who, and how) must be evaluated. 4) Prejudice and discrimination of the society against developmental disabilities intensify the feeling of stigma of the disabled and their families. Measures to resolve prejudice and discrimination against developmental disabilities and to relieve the feeling of stigma are needed. From these observations, the authors conclude that education toward normalization is necessary for all people and that social support systems for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families should be improved in the fields of medicine, health care, welfare, education, and employment.
- 一般社団法人日本社会福祉学会の論文
著者
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Fujii Kaoru
Graduate School Of Clinical Education Mukogawa Women's University
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Shiraishi Daisuke
Mukogawa Women's University