The impact of exposure to media coverage of the 2012 paralympic games on mixed physical ability interactions

The current work assessed the impact of the 2012 Paralympic Games on psychological factors operating during interactions between physically disabled and non-disabled group members. In a two-wave longitudinal design the pre- to post-Paralympic increase in exposure to Paralympic media coverage led to more positive ingroup norms about disabled people’s competence and improved intergroup contact quality among both physically disabled and non-disabled participants. Moreover, more positive norms about disabled people’s competence partially mediated the relationship between media exposure and contact quality. However, exposure to Paralympic media coverage did not appear to impact embarrassment about intergroup contact within either group.

Findings are discussed in terms of the efficacy and limitations of Paralympic media coverage to improve intergroup relations in the mixed physical ability context.