Psychosocial impact of involvement in the Special Olympics

Safeguarding strategies in athletes with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review

Compared to their non-disabled peers, athletes with disabilities are at an increased risk of interpersonal violence in sport. Athletes with intellectual disabilities specifically may face compounded risk due to impaired communication and social challenges. Despite the inherent risk of interpersonal violence in athletes with intellectual disabilities, there is a paucity of literature focused on safeguarding strategies in this population, and no global consensus prevention guidelines exist. The goal of this review was to synthesize the literature on interpersonal violence in athletes with intellectual disabilities and propose an evidence-informed safeguarding framework. Future research and practice should emphasize tailored training on appropriate athlete-protection strategies and ways to recognize and respond to suspicions of abuse in this population. Given the benefits of sports participation for persons with intellectual disabilities, implementation of fit-for-purpose safeguarding strategies would help address any elevated risk of interpersonal violence. Formal monitoring and evaluation of these initiatives can help minimize interpersonal violence.

Correlates of Social Participation of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Social participation has been linked to healthy aging, yet little is known about social participation during extended periods of time for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The social participation of 777 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (aged 18-77 years), during a 4-year period, was examined. Sociodemographic, physical, and behavioral health-related correlates of engagement in social participation were investigated. Findings indicated that the majority of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities engaged in at least a moderate level of social participation during the 4-years. Employment status, physical health, and Special Olympics participation were associated with a higher level of social participation. Findings have implications for supports and services seeking to promote social participation opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Neurodivergent Children: A Systematic Review

Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is a multi-faceted construct influenced by a myriad of environmental, demographic, and individual characteristics. Our understanding of these influencers remains highly limited in neurodevelopmental conditions. Existing research in this area is sparse, highly siloed by diagnosis labels, and focused on symptoms. This review synthesized the evidence in this area using a multi-dimensional model of HRQoL and trans-diagnostically across neurodevelopmental conditions. The systematic review, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Checklist, was completed in June 2023 using Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Our search revealed 78 studies that examined predictors of HRQoL in neurodevelopmental conditions. The majority of these studies focused on autism and ADHD with a paucity of literature in other conditions. Cross-diagnosis investigations were limited despite the fact that many of the examined predictors transcend diagnostic boundaries. Significant gaps were revealed in domains of biology/physiology, functioning, health perceptions, and environmental factors. Very preliminary evidence suggested potentially shared predictors of HRQoL across conditions including positive associations between HRQoL and adaptive functioning, male sex/gender, positive self-perception, physical activity, resources, and positive family context, and negative associations with diagnostic features and mental health symptoms. Studies of transdiagnostic predictors across neurodevelopmental conditions are critically needed to enable care models that address shared needs of neurodivergent individuals beyond diagnostic boundaries. Further understanding of HRQoL from the perspective of neurodivergent communities is a critical area of future work.

Exploring the relationship between social support, resilience, and subjective well-being in athletes of adapted sport

Introduction

Sports participation of people with disabilities provide an improvement in their skills, especially on access to social support, which could improve resilience and well-being. This study aims to analyze the association between types of social support (parents, coach, friend, and best friend), resilience and positive and negative affect, in 105 Portuguese athletes with disabilities aged between 13 and 61 years (32 ± 12.35 years).

Methods

Participants answered a short sociodemographic questionnaire, the Portuguese version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Brief Resilience Scale, and a scale for assessing social support from parents, coach, friend, and best friend.

Results

Social support provided by the best friend, coach, friends, and parents had a direct effect on resilience and positive and negative affect. Results showed a positive and significant association between resilience and positive affect (r = 0.28; p = 0.004) and a negative association between resilience and negative affect (r = -0.37; p ≤ 0.001). A strong relationship was found between resilience and affect, with no relationship being verified between the sources of social support and resilience or affect, as hypothesized.

Discussion

For this group of athletes with disability, more than the social support they may have or may feel, resilience proved to be very important for the consequence of sports practice in terms of subjective well-being.

Self-esteem and its relationship with depression and anxiety in adults with intellectual disabilities: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

In the general population, low self-esteem has been linked with poorer mental and physical health. This systematic literature review aimed to summarise and evaluate the findings of studies that examined self-esteem in adults with intellectual disabilities and links with mental health outcomes.

METHOD

A systematic search of PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL was conducted to identify studies published between 1990 and 2021. The studies were appraised using the QualSyst tool.

RESULTS

Twenty-six articles were identified of which two studies were removed from the review due to low quality. Studies reported mixed evidence regarding levels of self-esteem compared with the general population. Engagement in activities appeared to be linked with positive self-esteem, and perception of negative interpersonal life events as having a negative impact was associated with lower self-esteem. There was evidence of co-occurrence of low self-esteem and depression, but no studies examined the relationship between self-esteem and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Reviewed studies provided mixed evidence on levels of self-esteem in this population, suggesting that factors such as engagement in life were related to higher self-esteem and demonstrating the co-occurrence of low self-esteem and depression. However, clear causal links have yet to be identified, and more research is needed using longitudinal designs to answer questions about trajectory.

Well-Being, Resilience and Social Support of Athletes with Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Sport for people with disabilities appears to play a positive role in the well-being, resilience and social support of athletes with disabilities. Thus, this systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of adapted sport on the well-being, resilience and social support in a population with disabilities. The Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscus databases were used, with several descriptors and Boolean operators. A total of 287 studies were identified through searching the databases. After the data extraction process, twenty-seven studies were included for analysis. In general, these studies show that adapted sport has a positive impact on the levels of well-being, resilience and social support resources for people with disabilities, contributing to their personal development, quality of life and integration into society. Considering the impact on the variables studied, these results are important to support and encourage the development of adapted sport.

When the Normative Is Formative: Parents' Perceptions of the Impacts of Inclusive Sports Programs

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of parents of youth with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) who participated in Special Olympics Unified Sports^®, a program in which high school students with and without IDD compete on the same team. Based on semi-structured interviews with parents (n = 23) as part of a larger evaluation of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools in three states in the United States, thematic analysis shows that parents perceived improvements in their child's social and emotional skills, including demeanor and attitude, an enhanced sense of belonging at school, the emergence of new friendships and social opportunities, and rewarding interactions that flowed from the opportunity to engage in normative activities. Implications for schools and families are discussed in terms of the importance of providing and facilitating meaningful opportunities for inclusive extracurricular activities such as sports for youth with IDD.

Quality of Participation Experiences in Special Olympics Sports Programs

This cross-sectional study examined experiential elements facilitating quality sport experiences for youth (ages 12-24 years) in Special Olympics, and the associated influences of sport program and sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 451 athletes involved in the 2019 Special Olympics Youth Games completed a survey assessing elements of quality participation (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning). The t tests investigated whether athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities rated elements differently across Traditional and Unified Sport programs. Regression analyses explored whether sport program and sociodemographic characteristics were predictors of these elements. Youth reported high mean scores across the elements, with no significant differences between athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Traditional or Unified Sport. Athletes with no reported disability rated higher autonomy than those who reported disability (p = .01). Women tended to report greater engagement in sport than men (p = .07). Findings provide theoretical and practical insights into quality sport participation among youth in Special Olympics.

Psychometric evaluation of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in primary school students with mild intellectual disability: First evidence

BACKGROUND

Although the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is the most widely used measure of self-esteem, the evidential basis to confirm the RSES factor validity and reliability in children with intellectual disabilities (ID) has not been previously addressed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the RSES into a sample consisting of primary school students with mild ID, bearing in mind the aspect of multidimensionality. In addition, gender differences were also investigated.

METHODS

The participants were 103 primary school students with mild ID aged 9-12 years old. Fifty-four (52.4 %) of the participants were boys and forty-nine were girls (47.6 %). Using the LISREL software, six different models of factor structure were estimated. The psychometric properties of the RSES, including internal consistency, content validity, convergent and discriminant validity as well as confirmatory factor analysis, were assessed.

RESULTS

The findings of this study provide some preliminary support to the robustness of the bifactor model, with a general self-esteem factor and two method effect factors that capture the direction of positive and negative item wording.

CONCLUSIONS

Although it is inappropriate to conclude that the results will be extended to all other populations and cultures, it can be assumed that bifactor models, which specify method effects due to wording, fit better than strictly unidimensional or two factor models.

Belonging through sport participation for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that sport facilitates belonging for diverse athletes. This scoping review characterizes literature on sport participation and belonging for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search of five databases identified 17,497 articles. Selected articles (N = 39) underwent data extraction and analysis guided by a theoretical framework of belonging, outlining four processes through which belonging is experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

RESULTS

Articles originated from developed countries and in the context of Special Olympics (N = 17). Studies commonly used qualitative interviews with proxy respondents. While all studies described at least one belonging process, only 11 studies applied the term "belonging," and no study defined the construct.

CONCLUSION

Belonging is not well-conceptualized in sports literature for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Understanding belonging through sport participation for this population may inform sport-based policies and programming.

Improvements in Tennis Skills in Adults With Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Following an 8-Week Adapted Tennis Program

This study quantified changes in tennis skills and dose of practice in adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities following an 8-week adapted tennis program. Twenty-seven adults with disabilities (mean age 24.7) participated in an 8-week adapted tennis program (1-hour, twice a week). Participants’ racquets were equipped with sensors that measured the number of shots during the program (dose). Pre- and post-test tennis skill assessments (process scores) were conducted for the forehand and backhand. All participants showed significant improvements in forehand and backhand process scores. Level of function, but not age or disability type, was associated with forehand and backhand process scores. The number of forehand shots performed during the adapted tennis program did not change across the program. The number of forehand shots was associated with age and disability type, but not level of function. The number of backhand shots (dose) was not associated with age, disability, or level of function. The number of forehand or backhand shots (dose) was not associated with changes in forehand or backhand process scores, respectively. This study provides evidence of the efficacy of this adapted tennis program to develop fundamental tennis skills in novice players with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

'We need to share our stories': the lives of Pakistanis with intellectual disability and their guardians

INTRODUCTION

The experiences of Pakistanis with intellectual disabilities (IDs) and their family members have been underexplored empirically.

METHOD

The present study sought to address this gap by understanding the lives of five Special Olympics Pakistan athletes and their guardians through PhotoVoice.

FINDINGS

Through thematic analysis, we present the primary theme concerning Pakistan's cultural context that provides an empirical exploration of cultural beliefs about intellectual disability, cultural expectations and support received by people with intellectual disabilities and their guardians.

DISCUSSION

We discuss implications for research and practice.

Individual and Contextual Correlates of Frequently Involved Special Olympics Athletes

It is important to understand factors associated with sport participation for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). With a sample of 414 Special Olympics (SO) athletes, this study examined how frequently involved athletes differ from other youth who are less involved in SO. Results showed that frequently involved athletes are older, have more sport-specific parental support, stronger athlete-coach relationships, and more positive SO experiences than other athletes. These factors were predictive of SO involvement, even after controlling for athlete characteristics, including behavior problems and adaptive behavior. Athletes with IDD have the potential to be highly involved in sports when external supports (i.e., coaches and parents) are strong.