Attitudes Towards and Communications with People with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: Towards the Sustainability of a Healthy Citizenry

The sustainability of a healthy, well-functioning citizenry depends on the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. We investigated attitudes towards and communications with people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia by securing self-reports from 236 Saudi Arabian adults in a survey developed for this research, alongside demographic variables including gender, disability status, and age. The results indicate minimal effects of attitudes towards and communications with people with disabilities on their quality of life. Additional results indicate the effects of religious factors on attitudes towards and communications with people with disabilities, and also highlight the potential negative social consequences of misconceptions about people with disabilities. Such results indicate a continuing need to educate the Saudi Arabian public about disabilities, if the country is to facilitate and sustain a healthy citizenry.