Interventions utilising contact with people with disabilities to improve childrens attitudes towards disability A systematic review and meta-analysis.pdfVIP

Disability and Health Journal 10 (2017) 11e22 Review Article Interventions utilising contact with people with disabilities to improve children’s attitudes towards disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis Megan Armstrong, Ph.D.a,b,c,*,1, Christopher Morris, D.Phil.a,b, Charles Abraham, Ph.D.b,c, and Mark Tarrant, Ph.D.b,c aPeninsula Cerebra Research Unit (PenCRU), University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, UK bNIHR PenCLAHRC, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, UK cPsychology Applied to Health (PAtH) Group, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, UK Abstract Background: Children with disabilities are often the target of prejudice from their peers. The effects of prejudice include harmful health consequences. The Contact Hypothesis has previously shown to promote positive attitudes towards a range of social groups. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of school-based interventions for improving children’s attitudes towards disability through contact with people with disabilities. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases. Studies were included if it evaluated an intervention that aimed to improve children’s attitudes towards disability and involved either direct (in-person) or indirect (e.g., extended) contact with people with disabilities. Data were synthesised in a meta-analysis. Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 11 found signi?cant effects: six used direct contact, two used extended contact, two used parasocial (media-based) contact and one used guided imagined contact. One parasocial contact intervention found no signi?cant effects. Three meta-analyses showed direct contact (d 5 0.55, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.90) and extended contact (d 5 0.61, 95% CI 0.15 to 1.07) improved children’s attitudes; there was no evidence for parasocial contact (d 5 0.20, 95% CI -0.01 to 1.40). Conclusions: Direct, extended, an