Table 1. Descriptive statistics of included studies.
First
Author
(Year) |
Type of
Study |
Geographic
Location |
Sampling
Strategy |
Participant Details |
Theory |
Research
Design |
Measures |
Sample Size |
Age |
Gender |
ID Level |
ASD, autism spectrum disorder; CPAF, the Children’s Physical Activity Form; D, disabilities; DS, down syndrome; DD, developmental disabilities; ID, intellectual disabilities; IDD, intellectual and developmental disabilities; MR, mental retardation; n/a, not applicable; OSRAC-H, the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Home; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SOAL, the Scheme for Observing Activity Level; SOCARP, the System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play; SOFIT, the System for Observing Fitness Instructional Time; TD, typically developing.
2.3. Thematic Synthesis
The barriers and facilitators of PA participation among children and adolescents with ID are classified into three groups of studies using different research methods. Specifically, barriers and facilitators are presented under individual, interpersonal, and environmental levels of influence based on the social ecological model
[43] (
Table 2).
Table 2. Barriers and facilitators identified of PA participation among children and adolescents with ID.
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 |
ID, intellectual disabilities; LPA, light physical activity; MPA, moderate physical activity; MVPA, moderate to vigorous physical activity; N/A, not available; PA, physical activity; PE, physical education.
2.3.1. Barriers to Participating in PA
Qualitative Studies
The included qualitative studies identified barriers to PA participation among children and adolescents with ID based on the perceptions of parents, teachers, and adolescents with ID. Any dimension of PA was not available in these studies. At the individual level, the results of studies showed that conditions associated with ID, such as developmental delays
[37], ear problems
[29], and common characteristics associated with DS (including hypotonia, congenital heart defects, and communication impairments)
[31] were identified as physiological factors that inhibited PA participation in children and adolescents with ID. Low self-efficacy
[18] and lack of understanding on the importance of PA and its benefits for health
[28] were identified as cognitive and psychological barriers to PA participation. Interpersonal factors are related to interpersonal processes and primary groups, such as family and peers
[44], influencing PA participation among children and adolescents with ID. Lack of parental support (including lack of parents’ company
[26][31], lack of family’s financial support
[26][37], lack of transport support
[29], lack of information for parents on how to conduct home-based activities
[37]), and parent’s vigilance and overprotection
[26][31] were identified as family barriers to PA participation among children and adolescents with ID. In addition, lack of social networks (e.g., lack of social connectedness with others) was also identified as an interpersonal barrier to PA participation among children and adolescents with ID
[18]. At the environmental level, inadequate or inaccessible facilities
[26] and lack of appropriate programs
[31][37] were identified as social environmental barriers to PA participation among children and adolescents with ID. Poor weather, as one of the natural factors, prevented this population from participating in outdoor activity and thus decreased their PA
[18][26].
Quantitative Studies
At the individual level, low motor development (e.g., low locomotor and object control skills)
[9][13][25] was identified as a barrier that influenced MVPA or the number of steps per day among children and adolescents with ID. Low self-efficacy
[23] and a preference for indoor activities
[42] were identified as cognitive and psychological barriers that influenced regular PA and rating perceived exertion of PA participation among children and adolescents with ID. At the interpersonal level, lack of a social network (e.g., have fewer friends) was identified as a barrier that influenced regular PA among children and adolescents with ID
[23]. At the environmental level, teacher and classroom-related factors were examined in previous studies. The results of the study found that lesson contexts organized by PE teachers (e.g., allocating the substantial amount of lesson time for management) and teaching behaviors (e.g., spending considerably more time transmitting physical education (PE) knowledge), which reduced opportunities for students to participate in MVPA, were identified as barriers
[36].
Mixed-Method Studies
Lack of parental support
[39] and lack of public transportation
[39] were, respectively, identified as barriers at the interpersonal and environmental levels that influence MPA among children and adolescents with ID in one study using mixed methods.
2.3.2. Facilitators of Participating in PA
Qualitative Studies
Facilitators of PA participation among children and adolescents with ID reported by the included qualitative studies were also identified from perceptions of parents, teachers, and adolescents with ID. At the individual level, physical skills were identified as facilitators of participating in PA among children and adolescents with ID
[31]. Cognitive and psychological factors, such as high self-efficacy
[18], enjoyment of PA
[28][29], and personality traits (e.g., enthusiastic and determined)
[31] were also facilitators. At the interpersonal level, sufficient parental support (e.g., parents’ positive role model, parental company and logistic supports)
[18][28][29][31][37], positive role of siblings
[31][37], and positive social interactions with peers
[18][29][31][37] were identified as facilitators of participating in PA among children and adolescents with ID. At the environmental level, PA programs available in the community adapted for children and adolescents with ID were identified as social environment facilitators of participating in PA among children and adolescents with ID
[31]. Attending PE classes
[18], teaching methods, and a strong home-school link
[28] were identified as school environment factors of participating in PA among children and adolescents with ID.
Quantitative Studies
At the individual level, physical skills (e.g., riding a bicycle) were identified as physical ability factors that influence MVPA among children and adolescents with ID
[33]. Wanting to lose weight
[20], high self-efficacy
[23], and enjoyment of PA
[23][24] were identified as cognitive and psychological facilitators that influence PA frequency, regular PA, LPA, and MPA among children and adolescents with ID. In addition, caregiver’s higher educational level was another individual facilitator that influenced regular PA among children and adolescents with ID
[34]. At the interpersonal level, sufficient parental support (e.g., parents’ company)
[17] and positive parental beliefs of the benefits of PA for their child
[21] were identified as family factors that influence PA frequency among children and adolescents with ID. In addition, positive social interactions with peers
[11][32] and positive relationships with the coach
[17] were identified as social network facilitators that influence PA frequency among children and adolescents with ID. At the environmental level, an exergaming context implemented at home or at school was identified as a facilitator that influenced MVPA among children and adolescents with ID
[14]. Adequacy and availability of environmental resources (e.g., access to transportation) were identified as social environment factors that influenced PA frequency among children and adolescents with ID
[17]. PA programs available in the community adapted for children and adolescents with ID were also identified as facilitators that influenced LPA and MVPA among children and adolescents with ID
[30][33]. In terms of school factors, attending PE classes and participating in physical activities during school recess
[20][22][25][27][35][38][40][41] were identified as key facilitators that influenced MVPA or number of steps per day among children and adolescents with ID. Inclusive PE programs (e.g., a peer-tutored PE program)
[15] were also identified as school facilitators that influenced the LPA and PA frequency of children and adolescents with ID. In addition, high autonomy-supportive instructional climates
[16] and PE lesson contexts focused on skill practice
[36] were identified as facilitators that influenced MVPA among children and adolescents with ID.
Mixed-Method Studies
An adapted PA program using group video conferencing for the promotion of PA
[19] was identified as a facilitator that influenced MVPA among children and adolescents with ID at the environmental level.
Qualitative studies help to explore and understand full-breadth issues in relation to the PA participation experienced by a specific population
[45]. Therefore, it would be best suited to the profound exploration of the specific barriers and facilitators of PA participation among children and adolescents with ID
[46]. However, only 19% (n = 6) of the studies included in this research employed a qualitative research design. Qualitative studies are needed to address how children and adolescents with ID participate in PA and why their PA levels are lower than their peers without disabilities
[27][47]. Theoretical frameworks were designed to help comprehensively understand the relationship between factors and the mechanisms by which they affect behavior
[48]. However, only 19% (n = 6) of the research used a theoretical framework to guide their studies. Studies using the behavioral theoretical frameworks are urgently needed to better understand healthy behavioral patterns and guide the development of effective interventions to promote PA among children and adolescents with ID
[48][49].
Based on the social ecological model,
the our
esearchers' synthesis of the studies identified 34 factors primarily related to individual, interpersonal, and environmental elements at several levels of influence.
3. Conclusions
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.