Department of Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Dichterbij Innovation and Science, Gennep, The Netherlands.
Disabil Rehabil. 2021 Feb;43(4):489-497. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1630678. Epub 2019 Jun 26.
Stigmatisation can negatively affect opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in society. Stereotyping, a first step in the process of stigmatisation, has been insufficiently explored for people with intellectual disabilities. This study examined the general public's set of stereotypes that is saliently attributed to people with intellectual disabilities as well as the relationship of these stereotypes with discriminatory intentions and familiarity.
A mixed-method cross-sectional survey within a representative sample of the Dutch population ( = 892) was used. Stereotypes were analysed with factor analysis of a trait-rating scale, and qualitative analysis of an open-ended question. The relationship between stereotypes and discrimination as well as familiarity with people with intellectual disabilities was explored through multivariate analyses.
Four stereotype-factors appeared: "friendly", "in need of help", "unintelligent", and "nuisance". Stereotypes in the "nuisance" factor seemed unimportant due to their infrequent report in the open-ended question. "Friendly", "in need of help", "unintelligent" were found to be salient stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities due to their frequent report. The stereotypes did not relate to high levels of explicit discrimination. Yet due to the both positive and negative valence of the stereotypes, subtle forms of discrimination may be expected such as limited opportunities for choice and self-determination. This may affect opportunities for rehabilitation and might be challenged by protest-components within anti-stigma efforts.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThere is currently sparse input for anti-stigma campaigns regarding people with intellectual disabilities.Anti-stigma interventions may benefit from adopting protest elements: education of the general public about inequalities that are experienced by people with intellectual disabilities.Especially support staff should be informed about the experienced and/or anticipated stigma of people with intellectual disabilities.As a way of opposing stigma, support staff should empower people for example by conducting strategies to disclose their (intellectual) disabilities.People with intellectual disabilities can challenge stigma by learning to tell a positive narrative on the lives they lead, using their strengths and coping with their limitations.
污名化会对智障人士参与社会的机会产生负面影响。对于智障人士来说，刻板印象是污名化过程中的第一步，但其研究还不够充分。本研究考察了公众对智障人士的刻板印象，以及这些刻板印象与歧视意图和熟悉程度的关系。
本研究采用荷兰代表性人群（n=892）的混合方法横断面调查。使用特质评定量表的因子分析和开放式问题的定性分析来分析刻板印象。通过多元分析探讨了刻板印象与歧视以及与智障人士熟悉程度之间的关系。
出现了四个刻板印象因素：“友好”、“需要帮助”、“不聪明”和“讨厌”。由于在开放式问题中报告频率较低，“讨厌”因素中的刻板印象似乎并不重要。由于“友好”、“需要帮助”、“不聪明”的报告频率较高，因此被认为是智障人士的突出刻板印象。这些刻板印象与高水平的显性歧视无关。然而，由于刻板印象的积极和消极的双重影响，可能会出现微妙形式的歧视，例如选择和自主的机会有限。这可能会影响康复的机会，并可能受到反污名努力中的抗议因素的挑战。
目前针对智障人士的反污名运动缺乏投入。反污名干预措施可能受益于采用抗议元素：教育公众了解智障人士所经历的不平等。特别是支持人员应该了解智障人士所经历和/或预期的污名。作为反对污名的一种方式，支持人员应该赋予智障人士权力，例如通过开展策略来披露他们的（智力）残疾。智障人士可以通过学习讲述自己的生活故事，利用自己的优势并应对自己的局限性，来挑战污名。
