Children's Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions Toward a Peer with Tourette Syndrome

Examined children's ratings of attitudes and behavioral intentionstoward a boy presented, on videotape, with or without symptomsof Tourette syndrome (TS). Effects of information about TS onthese ratings were investigated as well as the influence ofgender and grade. Children in Grades 3 and 5 were randomly assignedto one of three conditions: No TS, TS, or TS/information. Onthe attitude measure, children rated the peer presented withTS less positively than they did the peer presented withoutTS. On behavioral intention measures, no significant differenceswere found between conditions. Information about TS did notaffect ratings. Implications of these findings as well as limitationsof the study are discussed.