Nursing Students Social Distance towards Patients with Intellectual Disabilities – Cross-Sectional International Pilot Study

Social distance (SD) characterises attitudes towards stigmatised groups, such as individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Investigating the SD of nursing students is crucial for understanding how future healthcare professionals perceive and interact with people with ID. The study aimed to examine the SD of nursing students towards patients with ID in medical service scenarios. The sample consisted of 327 nursing students from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. A diagnostic survey method was used. The SD of surveyed students towards individuals with disabilities exhibited greater variation in intergroup comparisons within formal contexts associated with professional roles than in situations demanding personal involvement beyond professional duties.