Attribution Model for Nursing Students with the Intention of Helping Individuals with Autism

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between controllability, a key attribution about the causality of behavior, and intention to help adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among nursing students.

Methods: A total of 351 students from different nursing schools and universities were included in the study. An online survey utilizing a hypothetical vignette was conducted among nursing students after they read a vignette depicting the behavioral problems of adolescents with ASD.

Results: In total, 227 participants completed the survey questionnaire (response rate: 64.6%), and 192 responses were analyzed. Results of the structural equation modeling showed that our hypothesized model adequately fits the data about the attribution theory (CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.931, RMSEA = 0.072). Controllability was indirectly related to the intention of helping through sympathy and anger. Students who believed that the behavioral problems of adolescents with ASD are attributable to less controllable characteristics were more likely to have a stronger intention of helping.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that interventions that alter nursing students’ controllability of the behavioral problems of adolescents with ASD may foster feelings of sympathy and enhance the intention of helping.