Attitudes toward Persons with a Disability: An Examination of Demographic Factors, Social Context, and Specific Disability

The research reported here examined two questions relevant to the study of attitudes toward persons with a disability. The first question addressed concerned a multidimensionality hypothesis, which suggested that attitudes should vary as a function of both the type of disability considered and the social context. The second question addressed the correlates of attitudes toward persons with a disability. The extent to which variables previously found to be related to attitudes are still significant is questionable in light of much recent advocacy for and by persons with a disability. By means of a hierarchical regression analysis, the relationship of certain demographic and contact variables to attitudes toward persons with a disability was examined. Results of this study supported the multidimensionality hypothesis, and in addition suggested that contact with persons with a disability is a major determinant of attitudes. Somewhat surprisingly, demographic variables accounted for limited variance in attitudes. Implications and research directions are discussed.