Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis

Classroom teachers’ inclusive practices that address students’ diverse needs are vital for successful inclusive education reform. Given that teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs toward inclusive education are arguably pivotal factors in influencing the implementation of inclusive education,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yanlin Long, Umesh Sharma, Pearl Subban
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2526872
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849428424956837888
author Yanlin Long
Umesh Sharma
Pearl Subban
author_facet Yanlin Long
Umesh Sharma
Pearl Subban
author_sort Yanlin Long
collection DOAJ
description Classroom teachers’ inclusive practices that address students’ diverse needs are vital for successful inclusive education reform. Given that teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs toward inclusive education are arguably pivotal factors in influencing the implementation of inclusive education, this meta-analysis synthesized the research on Chinese teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusion. Applying rigorous inclusion criteria,16 qualifying studies from 2010 to 2024 covering 10361 Chinese teachers were identified. Three random-effect models revealed that Chinese teachers generally hold moderately positive attitudes (g = 0.42) and high self-efficacy toward inclusion (g = 1.31) over the past ten years. Furthermore, Chinese teachers’ attitudinal and efficacy beliefs were moderately correlated ([Formula: see text] = 0.49). Following meta-regression analysis revealed that the correlation between attitudes and self-efficacy has seen a slightly positive trend over the past decade. Moreover, female teachers had marginally higher self-efficacy toward inclusion than their male counterparts. However, teacher type (pre-service or in-service teacher), students’ type of disability, and school-level factors did not significantly predict teachers’ attitudes, self-efficacy, or their correlation. Understanding the status of teachers’ attitudes, self-efficacy, and the influencing factors could foster their use of inclusive practices in regular classrooms.
format Article
id doaj-art-33660ce7b7464e02af70b526d26eb021
institution Kabale University
issn 2331-186X
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Education
spelling doaj-art-33660ce7b7464e02af70b526d26eb0212025-08-20T03:28:43ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2526872Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysisYanlin Long0Umesh Sharma1Pearl Subban2Faculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaFaculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaFaculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaClassroom teachers’ inclusive practices that address students’ diverse needs are vital for successful inclusive education reform. Given that teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs toward inclusive education are arguably pivotal factors in influencing the implementation of inclusive education, this meta-analysis synthesized the research on Chinese teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusion. Applying rigorous inclusion criteria,16 qualifying studies from 2010 to 2024 covering 10361 Chinese teachers were identified. Three random-effect models revealed that Chinese teachers generally hold moderately positive attitudes (g = 0.42) and high self-efficacy toward inclusion (g = 1.31) over the past ten years. Furthermore, Chinese teachers’ attitudinal and efficacy beliefs were moderately correlated ([Formula: see text] = 0.49). Following meta-regression analysis revealed that the correlation between attitudes and self-efficacy has seen a slightly positive trend over the past decade. Moreover, female teachers had marginally higher self-efficacy toward inclusion than their male counterparts. However, teacher type (pre-service or in-service teacher), students’ type of disability, and school-level factors did not significantly predict teachers’ attitudes, self-efficacy, or their correlation. Understanding the status of teachers’ attitudes, self-efficacy, and the influencing factors could foster their use of inclusive practices in regular classrooms.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2526872Teachersattitudesself-efficacyinclusive educationmeta-analysismainland China
spellingShingle Yanlin Long
Umesh Sharma
Pearl Subban
Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis
Cogent Education
Teachers
attitudes
self-efficacy
inclusive education
meta-analysis
mainland China
title Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis
title_full Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis
title_short Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland China: a meta-analysis
title_sort teachers attitudes and self efficacy toward inclusive education in mainland china a meta analysis
topic Teachers
attitudes
self-efficacy
inclusive education
meta-analysis
mainland China
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2526872
work_keys_str_mv AT yanlinlong teachersattitudesandselfefficacytowardinclusiveeducationinmainlandchinaametaanalysis
AT umeshsharma teachersattitudesandselfefficacytowardinclusiveeducationinmainlandchinaametaanalysis
AT pearlsubban teachersattitudesandselfefficacytowardinclusiveeducationinmainlandchinaametaanalysis