Independence and physical activity status moderate stereotypes toward people with a physical disability

Background: Evidence suggests that when people with a physical disability are perceived as independent or as exercisers, they are perceived more positively. Objective: This study evaluated how the components of exercise and independence, taken together, moderated stereotypes expressed toward a person with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: A 2 x 2 factorial design, with two additional control groups, was used. Able-bodied participants (N = 224) read one of six randomly selected vignettes. Each vignette described a fictitious character named Alex with differing independence status (independent/dependent) and/or exercise status (physically active/unspecified physically activity level). In four of the six vignettes, Alex was described as having an SCI. Participants' stereotypes were assessed by evaluating their perceptions of the character's general competence, physical competence, and warmth. Results: The character described as independent and an exerciser was evaluated most positively, compared with all other vignettes (p < 0.001). Results suggest that independence and exercise status moderate stereotypes of warmth and competence. Conclusions: Findings may have implications for developing future interventions to effectively reduce stereotypes toward persons with a physical disability, such as SCI.