Relationship between familiarity with a person who stutters and vocational stereotyping

Previous research has identified vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. There continues to be a need to understand factors that might influence vocational stereotyping. This study aimed to understand if having a relationship with a person who stutters influences vocational stereotyping.

Using an online survey, participants identified if they know a person who stutters as well as the type and closeness of that relationship. Then, participants completed the Vocational Advice Scale (VAS). Relationships between familiarity with a person who stutters and VAS scale ratings were investigated using multiple statistical analyses.

Results indicate that knowing a person who stutters has no significant effect on VAS scores for any career, including high-communication careers that are typically less advised for a person who stutters. Results also indicate that the closeness or type of relationship with a person who stutters has no significant impact on scores.

Individuals who have a relationship with a person who stutters appear to demonstrate vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. In other words, even those closest to people who stutter view careers requiring high communication demands as less appropriate for them. How these results contribute to understanding vocational stereotypes and role entrapment are discussed.