Perceived Impact of Stigma on the Quality of life of Students with Disabilities in Senior Secondary Schools in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the perceived impact of stigma on the quality of life of students with disabilities in public senior secondary schools. The investigation was guided by two objectives, research questions, and hypotheses. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, the study focused on a population of 892 students with disability attending public senior secondary schools in the study area. To ensure representativeness, a sample size of 276 students with disabilities was determined using the Taro Yamane formula for sample size calculation and utilized in conducting the study.  The stratified random sampling technique was used to select the students. The researcher created a questionnaire called the Stigma and Quality of Life Survey for Students with Disabilities to gather information from participants. An expert in Measurement and Evaluation reviewed the questionnaire to ensure its validity. The questionnaires showed good internal consistency with a reliability coefficient of 0.88, determined by Cronbach’s Alpha test. To answer the research questions, mean and standard deviation were used. The findings of the study showed that students with disabilities felt excluded or left out by my peers, teachers sometimes underestimated them and they had limited opportunities in school, among others. The study recommended, among others, that school administrators should implement anti-stigma campaigns and awareness programs to address the negative attitudes faced by students with disabilities in senior secondary schools in Delta State, Nigeria