Does the Exerciser Stereotype Apply to Autistic Persons with Intellectual Disabilities? Influence of the Level of Sport Participation.

This study examined whether information about sport participation influences stereotypes associated with autistic persons with intellectual disabilities, focusing on the warmth and competence dimensions of stereotype content and their facets. Participants (N = 325, Mage = 26.09), primarily students without self-reported disability, completed an online experiment using a between-subjects randomized design. Participants read a vignette describing an autistic person with intellectual disabilities, in which sport participation was manipulated (elite, recreational, or control). Participants then rated the target on perceived warmth and competence using 30-item scales including facet subscales. Results showed significant effects of sport participation on perceived competence: F(2, 322) = 52.66, p < .001, ηp2=.25. The elite athlete was perceived as more competent than both the recreational and control targets. The recreational athlete was rated higher that the control target. These findings suggest that sport participation may shape social perceptions of autism, although field studies are needed to examine real-world effects.