Attitudes and Behavioural Intentions of Typically Developing Adolescents towards a Hypothetical Peer with Asperger Syndrome

Abstract

This study examines the attitudes and the behavioural intentions of typically developing (TD) adolescents towards ahypothetical peer with Asperger syndrome (AS). Participants (N= 179, M age= 13.7 years) viewed two Powerpointpresentations one of a TD male target and one of a male target with AS. The target with AS was introduced eitherwith descriptive or combined information delivered either by a hypothetical friend or by a hypothetical teacher.Attitudes and behavioural intentions were assessed by the administration of the Shared Activities Questionnaire andthe Adjective Checklist. Results yielded that participants were more positive towards the TD target than towards thetarget with AS. Regarding the target with AS, there was no significant overall advantage of either information typewhereas the friend rather than the teacher source triggered more positive responses. Limitations and suggestions forfuture research are discussed.