Social Attitudes of Youth in Countries on Both Sides of the Eastern EU Border Towards People With Limited Mobility in the Face of the Consequences of the War in Ukraine

The study examined the attitudes of 800-1,000 university students from ten countries along the eastern EU border towards individuals using wheelchairs, using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities (MAS). The research, conducted by an international team, found that students' attitudes were generally undecided or negative, with a global MAS score similar to the typical population (80.2±17.80). However, Ukrainian students affected by the war showed more positive attitudes, suggesting that crisis situations can foster empathy and positive social attitudes. The results can inform both individual and group attitude analyses and help develop practical recommendations for raising awareness and shaping attitudes towards people with mobility impairments.