Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) have low levels of physical activity (PA). Understanding factors influencing the PA participation of this population is essential to the design of effective interventions. Continued exploration of factors influencing PA participation is required among children and adolescents with ID. Future interventions should involve families, schools, and wider support network in promoting their PA participation together.
First Author (Year) |
Type of Study |
Geographic Location |
Sampling Strategy |
Participant Details | Theory | Research Design |
Measures | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sample Size | Age | Gender | ID Level |
Themes | Dimensions of PA | |||||||||
Intensities of PA | Steps | Subjective PA Questionnaires | N/A | |||||||
LPA | MPA | MVPA | Steps/Day -Average Daily Steps Counts |
Regular PA (Yes or No) | PA Frequency (Times Per Week) | PA Perceptual Characteristics (Perceived Exertion) |
||||
Barriers | ||||||||||
Individual factors | ||||||||||
- Physiological factors | ||||||||||
Conditions associated with ID | [29][31][37] | |||||||||
- Motor development | ||||||||||
Low motor development | [9] | [13][25] | ||||||||
- Cognitive and psychological factors | ||||||||||
Low self-efficacy | [23] | [18] | ||||||||
Lack of understanding about importance of PA and its benefits to health | [28] | |||||||||
Preference for indoor activities | [42] | |||||||||
Interpersonal factors | ||||||||||
- Family | ||||||||||
Lack of parental support | [39] | [26][29][31][37] | ||||||||
Parents’ vigilance and overprotection | [26][31] | |||||||||
- Social network | ||||||||||
Lack of social network | [23] | [18] | ||||||||
Environmental factors | ||||||||||
- Social environment | ||||||||||
Inadequate or inaccessible facilities | [26] | |||||||||
Lack of appropriate programs | [31][37] | |||||||||
Lack of public transportation | [39] | |||||||||
- School environment | ||||||||||
Lesson contexts (management) | [36] | |||||||||
Teaching behaviors (transmit knowledge) | [36] | |||||||||
- Natural environment | ||||||||||
Poor weather | [18][26] | |||||||||
Facilitators | ||||||||||
Individual factors | ||||||||||
- Physical abilities | ||||||||||
Physical skills | [33] | [31] | ||||||||
- Cognitive and psychological factors | ||||||||||
High self-efficacy | [23] | [18] | ||||||||
Weight loss | [20] | |||||||||
Enjoyment of PA | [24] | [24] | [23] | [28][29] | ||||||
Personality traits | [31] | |||||||||
Caregiver’s high educational level | [34] | |||||||||
Interpersonal factors | ||||||||||
- Family | ||||||||||
Sufficient parental support | [17] | [18][28][29][31][37] | ||||||||
Positive parental beliefs | [21] | |||||||||
Positive role of siblings | [31][37] | |||||||||
- Social network | ||||||||||
Positive social interaction with peers | [11][32] | [18][29][31][37] | ||||||||
Positive coach–athlete relationship | [17] | |||||||||
Environmental factors | ||||||||||
- Social environment | ||||||||||
An exergaming context | [14] | |||||||||
Adequate and available resources | [17] | |||||||||
Adapted PA programs | [30] | [19][33] | [31] | |||||||
- School environment | ||||||||||
Attending PE classes and participating PA during recess | [20][27][35][38][40][41] | [22][25] | [18] | |||||||
Inclusive PE programs | [15] | [15] | ||||||||
High autonomy–supportive climates on PA | [16] | |||||||||
Lesson contexts (skill practice) | [36] | |||||||||
Teaching methods | [28] | |||||||||
A strong home-school link | [28] | |||||||||
Alhusaini (2020) [13] |
Quantitative | Saudi Arabia | purposive | 78 (37DS/41TD) |
8–12 | male | DS | n/a | cross-sectional | pedometer |
Pincus (2019) [14] |
Quantitative | USA | purposive | 3 | 16–18 | 1 male 2 female |
moderate sever unspecified |
n/a | intervention | quantitative observation (OSRAC-H) |
Wouters (2019) [9] |
Quantitative | Netherlands | purposive | 68 | 2–18 | 43 male 25 female |
moderate to severe | n/a | cross-sectional | accelerometer |
Gobbi (2018) [15] |
Quantitative | Italy | convenience | 19 | 17.4 ± 1.7 | 15 male 4 female |
mild to moderate | n/a | case study | accelerometer questionnaire |
Johnson (2018) [16] |
Quantitative | USA | could not be determined | 32 (14DD/18TD) |
5–9 (6.89 ± 1.11) |
9/11 male 5/7 female |
DD | self-determination theory | intervention | accelerometer |
Robertson (2018) [11] |
Quantitative | UK | purposive | 535 | 13–20 | 356 male 179 female |
mild to moderate | n/a | longitudinal | questionnaire |
Ryan (2018) [17] |
Quantitative | Canada | purposive | 409 | 11–23 | 261 male 148 female |
ASD ID |
n/a | cross-sectional | questionnaire |
Stevens (2018) [18] |
Qualitative | UK | purposive | 10 | 16–18 | 7 male 3 female |
mild to moderate | Self-Determination Theory | phenomenology | semi-structured interview |
Ptomey (2017) [19] |
Mixed method | USA | could not be determined | 31 | 11–21 (13.9 ± 2.7) |
16 male 15 female |
mild to moderate IDD | n/a | intervention | heart rate monitors, questionnaire, semi-structured interviews |
Einarsson (2016) [20] |
Quantitative | Iceland | convenience | 184 (91ID/93TD) |
6–16 | could not be determined | mild to severe | n/a | cross-sectional | accelerometers, questionnaire |
Pitchford (2016) [21] |
Quantitative | USA | convenience | 113 | 2–21 | 72 male 41 female |
DD | n/a | cross-sectional | questionnaire |
Queralt (2016) [22] |
Quantitative | Spain | convenience | 35 | 15.3 ± 2.7 | 22 male 13 female |
mild to moderate | n/a | cross-sectional descriptive |
pedometers |
Stanish (2016) [23] |
Quantitative | USA | could not be determined | 98 (38ID/60TD) |
13–21 | 17/36 male 21/24 female |
mild to moderate | social cognitive | cross-sectional | questionnaire |
Boddy (2015) [24] |
Quantitative | UK | convenience | 70 | 5–15 | 57 male 13 female |
ASD non-ASD |
n/a | cross-sectional | accelerometers, quantitative observation (SOCARP) |
Eguia (2015) [25] |
Quantitative | Philippines | convenience | 60 | 5–14 | 51 male 9 female |
mild to moderate | n/a | cross-sectional | pedometers |
Njelesani (2015) [26] |
Qualitative | Trinidad and Tobago | purposive | 9(parent) | (child) 10–17 |
(child) 6 male 3 female |
moderate to severe DD | occupational perspective |
phenomenology | semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews |
Pan (2015) [27] |
Quantitative | China (Taiwan) |
convenience | 80 (40D/40TD) |
12–17 | 30/30 male 10/10 female |
21 slight 14 medium ID 3 high ID 2 total ID |
n/a | cross-sectional | accelerometer |
Downs (2014) [28] |
Qualitative | UK | purposive | 23 (teachers) | (child) 4–18 |
(teacher) 9 male 14 femle |
ID level could not be determined | n/a | phenomenology | semi-structured focus groups |
Downs (2013) [29] |
Qualitative | UK | purposive | 8 | 6–21 (16.38 ± 5.04) |
3 male 5 female |
DS | n/a | phenomenology | semi-structured interview |
Shields (2013) [30] |
Quantitative | Australia | could not be determined | 68 | 17.9 ± 2.6 | 30 male 38 female |
mild to moderate DS | n/a | intervention (RCT) |
accelerometer |
Barr (2011) [31] |
Qualitative | Australia | purposive | 20 (parent) | (child)2–17 (9.9 ± 4.8) |
10 female 6 male |
DS | n/a | phenomenology | In-depth interview |
Temple (2011) [32] |
Quantitative | Canada | could not be determined | 34 (20ID/14TD) |
ID 17.8 ± 1.6 TD 16.4 ± 1.3 |
10/5 male 10/9 female |
mild to moderate | n/a | intervention | questionnaire |
Ulrich (2011) [33] |
Quantitative | USA | convenience | 46 | 8–15 | 20 male 26 male |
DS | the principles of dynamic systems theory | intervention (RCT) |
accelerometers |
Lin (2010) [34] |
Quantitative | China (Taiwan) |
could not be determined | 350 | 16–18 | 211 male 139 female |
mild to profound | n/a | cross-sectional | questionnaire |
Pitetti (2009) [35] |
Quantitative | USA | purposive | 15 | 8.8 ± 2.2 | 6 male 9 female |
mild | n/a | cross-sectional | heart rate monitor |
Sit (2008) [36] |
Quantitative | China (Hong Kong) |
purposive | 80 | 4–6 grades | 54 male 26 female |
mild | n/a | cross-sectional | quantitative observation (SOFIT) |
Menear (2007) [37] |
Qualitative | USA | purposive | 21 | (child) 3–22 |
13 male 8 female |
DS | n/a | phenomenology | focus group |
Faison-Hodge (2004) [38] |
Quantitative | USA | convenience | 46 (8MR/38TD) |
8–11 | 25 male 21 female |
mild MR | social cognitive theory | cross-sectional | quantitative observation (SOFIT), heart rate monitor |
Kozub (2003) [39] |
Mixed method | USA | could not be determined | 7 | 13–25 | 4 male 3 female |
MR | n/a | cross-sectional | accelerometers, quantitative observation (CPAF), semi-structured interview |
Horvat (2001) [40] |
Quantitative | USA | purposive | 23 | 6.5–12 | could not be determined | mild MR | n/a | cross-sectional | heart rate monitor, accelerometers, quantitative observation |
Lorenzi (2000) [41] |
Quantitative | USA | purposive | 34 (17MR/17TD) |
5.5–12 | 10/10 male 7/7 female |
mild MR | n/a | cross-sectional | heart rate monitor, accelerometers, quantitative observation (SOAL) |
Sharav (1992) [42] |
Quantitative | Canada | convenience | 60 (30DS/30TD) |
2 –11 | could not be determined | DS | n/a | cross-sectional | questionnaire |
Based on the social ecological model, the ouresearchers' synthesis of the studies identified 34 factors primarily related to individual, interpersonal, and environmental elements at several levels of influence. Disability-specific factors, low self-efficacy, lack of parental support, inadequate or inac-cessible facilities, and lack of appropriate programs were the most commonly reported barriers. High self-efficacy, enjoyment of PA, sufficient parental support, social interaction with peers, attending school PE classes, and adapted PA programs were the most commonly reported facilitators. Given the findings from this scoping review, there is a need for continued exploration of the barriers and facilitators of PA participation among children and adolescents with ID by more qualitative, longitudinal, and interventional studies. By understanding the relationships between barriers and facilitators and the different dimensions of PA, interventions can be better designed and adapted to en-courage greater PA participation for children and adolescents. Such work may be vital to improve this population’s health and growth.