Sport Participation for Elite Athletes With Physical Disabilities: Motivations, Barriers, and Facilitators

in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Click name to view affiliation

Gabriella McLoughlin University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Search for other papers by Gabriella McLoughlin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Courtney Weisman Fecske University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Search for other papers by Courtney Weisman Fecske in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Yvette Castaneda University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Search for other papers by Yvette Castaneda in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Candace Gwin Wiley Elementary School

Search for other papers by Candace Gwin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
, and
Kim Graber University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Search for other papers by Kim Graber in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2016-0127
Keywords:
athletes with physical disabilities; self-determination theory; elite sport participation
In Print:
Volume 34: Issue 4
Page Range:
421–441
Restricted access

There are many reasons why individuals are motivated to participate in sports. Less attention, however, is given for studying motivation and athlete development in adapted sport. The purpose of this study was to identify the motivations, facilitators, and barriers to sports participation of elite athletes with a physical disability. Participants (N = 23, 17 males, six females, mean age: 24.3 years) were recruited through online listservs, e-mails, and snowball sampling. A semistructured interview guide was employed. Analysis was conducted and grounded in self-determination theory and literature surrounding barriers and facilitators of sports participation. Through coding by multiple researchers, six themes emerged. Themes indicated that athletes attributed participation to constructs of self-determination theory as well as overcoming specific barriers such as cost, time constraints, and lack of opportunity. Among facilitators to their athletic development, there were empowerment and advocacy, increased health, college scholarships, and achieving performance-related goals.

McLoughlin, Weisman Fecske, Castaneda, and Graber are with the Dept. of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL. Gwin is with the Wiley Elementary School, Urbana, IL.

Address author correspondence to Gabriella McLoughlin at gmcloug2@illinois.edu.
  • Collapse
  • Expand

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Cover Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

  • Adie, J.W., Duda, J.L., & Ntoumanis, N. (2008). Autonomy support, basic need satisfaction, and the optimal functioning of adult male and female sport participants: A test of basic needs theory. Motivation and Emotion, 32, 189–199. doi:10.1007/s11031-008-9095-z

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Anderson, D.M., Wozencroft, A., & Bedini, L.A. (2008). Adolescent girls’ involvement in disability sport: A comparison of social support mechanisms. Journal of Leisure Research, 40, 183–207. doi:10.1177/0193723509350608

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Americans with Disabilities Act, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 328 (1990).

  • Banack, H., Sabiston, C., & Bloom, G. (2011). Coach autonomy support, basic need satisfaction, and intrinsic motivation of Paralympic athletes. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 82, 722–730. PubMed doi:10.1080/02701367.2011.10599809

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Burton, D., Pickering, M., Weinberg, R., Yukelson, D., & Weigand, D. (2010). The competitive goal effectiveness paradox revisited: Examining the goal practices of prospective Olympic athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22, 72–86. doi:10.1080/10413200903403232

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). Physical activity among adults with a disability—United States, 2005. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 56, 1021–1024. PubMed

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Deci, E.L., Eghrari, H., Patrick, B.C., & Leone, D.R. (1994). Facilitating internalization: The self-determination theory perspective. Journal of Personality, 62, 119–142. PubMed doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00797.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Deci, E.L., & Ryan, R.M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York, NY: Plenum.

  • Denny, K.G., & Steiner, H. (2009). External and internal factors influencing happiness in elite collegiate athletes. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 40, 55–72. PubMed doi:10.1007/s10578-008-0111-z

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • DePauw, K., & Gavron, S. (2005). Disability sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

  • Disabled Sports USA. (2009). Sports and employment among Americans with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.disabledsportsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Sports-and-Employment-Among-People-With-Disabilities.pdf

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Farrell, R.J., Crocker, P.R., McDonough, M.H., & Sedgwick, W.A. (2004). The driving force: Motivation in special Olympians. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 21, 153–166. doi:10.1123/apaq.21.2.153

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • French, D., & Hainsworth, J. (2001). ‘There aren’t any buses and the swimming pool is always cold!’: Obstacles and opportunities in the provision of sport for disabled people. Managing Leisure, 6, 35–49. doi:10.1080/13606710010026359

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Groff, D.G., Lundberg, N.R., & Zabriskie, R.B. (2009). Influence of adapted sport on quality of life: Perceptions of athletes with cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31, 318–326. PubMed doi:10.1080/09638280801976233

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Heo, J., Lee, Y., Lundberg, N., McCormick, B., & Chun, S. (2008). Adapted sport as serious leisure: Do self-determination, skill level, and leisure constraints matter? Annual in Therapeutic Recreation, 16, 31–38.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hutzler, Y., & Bergman, U. (2011). Facilitators and barriers to participation while pursuing an athletic career. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 45, 1–16.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jaarsma, E.A., Dijkstra, P.U., Geertzen, J.H.B., & Dekker, R. (2014). Barriers to and facilitators of sports participation for people with physical disabilities: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 871–881. PubMed doi:10.1111/sms.12218

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jaarsma, E.A., Geertzen, J.H., Jong, R., Dijkstra, P.U., & Dekker, R. (2014). Barriers and facilitators of sports in Dutch Paralympic athletes: An explorative study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24, 830–836. PubMed doi:10.1111/sms.12071

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kämpfe, A., Höner, O., & Willimczik, K. (2014). Multiplicity and development of achievement motivation: A comparative study between German elite athletes with and without a disability. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 7, 32–48.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

  • Mageau, G.A., & Vallerand, R.J. (2003). The coach–athlete relationship: A motivational model. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21, 883–904. PubMed doi:10.1080/0264041031000140374

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Oliver, M. (2004). The social model in action: If I had a hammer. In C. Barnes & G. Mercer (Eds.), Implementing the social model of disability: Theory and research (pp. 18–31). Leeds, UK: The Disability Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Page, S.J., O’Connor, E., & Peterson, K. (2001). Leaving the disability ghetto: A qualitative study of factors underlying achievement motivation among athletes with disabilities. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 25, 40–55. doi:10.1177/0193723501251004

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Patton, M.Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Pelletier, L.G., Fortier, M.S., Vallerand, R.J., Tuson, K., Briere, N.M., & Blais, N. (1995). Toward a new measure of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation in sports: The sport motivation scale (SMS). Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 17, 18–34. doi:10.1123/jsep.17.1.18

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reid, G. (2003). Defining adapted physical activity. In R.D. Steadward, G.D. Wheeler, & E.J. Watkinson (Eds.), Adapted physical activity (pp. 11–25). Alberta, Canada: University of Alberta Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ryan, R.M. (1982). Control and information in the intra-personal sphere: An extension of cognitive evaluation theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 450–461. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.43.3.450

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. The American Psychologist, 55, 68–78. PubMed doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Taub, D., Blinde, E.M., & Greer, K.R. (1999). Stigma management through participation in sport and physical activity: Experiences of male college students with physical disabilities. Human Relations, 52, 1469–1484. doi:10.1023/A:1016928901982

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tawse, H., Bloom, G.A., Sabiston, C.M., & Reid, G. (2012). The role of coaches of wheelchair rugby in the development of athletes with a spinal cord injury. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 4, 206–225. doi:10.1080/2159676X.2012.685104

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J. (1983). The effect of differential amounts of positive feedback on the intrinsic motivation of male hockey players. Journal of Sport Psychology, 5, 100–107. doi:10.1123/jsp.5.1.100

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J., & Losier, G.F. (1999). An integrated analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 142–169. doi:10.1080/10413209908402956

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vallerand, R.J., Pelletier, L.G., Blais, M.R., Briere, N.M., Senecal, C., & Vallieres, E.F. (1992). The Academic Motivation Scale: A measure of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation in education. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1003–1017. doi:10.1177/0013164492052004025

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wu, S.K., & Williams, T. (2001). Factors influencing sport participation among athletes with spinal cord injury. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33, 177–182. PubMed doi:10.1097/00005768-200102000-0D

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 8073 2123 186
Full Text Views 461 84 8
PDF Downloads 418 103 9