Multidimensional attitudes scale toward persons with disabilities: factor and exploratory analysis for a Ukrainian version (MAS-UA)

Background: Currently, a topical area of research is the multidimensional approach to both reliable tools and professional interventions aimed at improving the attitudes of Ukrainian society toward people with disabilities in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to study the factor structure of the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS) questionnaire on a sample of Ukrainian students to create an adaptation of the original version (MAS-UA). Material and Methods: The main authors of the questionnaire gave their consent for the adaptation. The Ukrainian version of the MAS was developed using the method of back translation from the original language. The proposed multi-factor structure of the MAS-UA was tested in an anonymous online study of 1619 Ukrainian students.Results: The factor analysis and a parallel exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 5-factor structure for the MAS-UA (the classic domains – cognitive, affective, and behavioral – and two additional domains, negative effects and items concentrated in the factors “Calm” and “Desire to communicate”). These five factors yielded 62.6% of the total variance score. Conclusions: The MAS-UA was developed and presented as a reliable instrument for examining attitudes toward people with physical disabilities. The instrument can be used for the initial assessment when developing prevention and educational programs in the field of social policy, as well as to evaluate their effectiveness. Studies using the adapted version of the scale (MAS-UA) will allow the comparison of results from other countries where other language versions are used.