Psychosocial Benefits of Sport Participation for Athletes with Physical Disabilities
Youth with physical disabilities are significantly less likely to participate in sport or physical activity than youth without disabilities. For those with disabilities who engage in sport or physical activity, the benefits can be seen in the physical and psychosocial domains and are equal to or in some cases more important to maintain quality of life for individuals with disabilities compared to persons without a disability. It is critical to study, understand, and promote participation in sport for youth with disabilities not just for rehabilitation but to ensure equal opportunities in schools so that students with disabilities benefit from public education equal to that of their peers without disabilities.
The following papers have been published with a focus on understanding and promoting the psychosocial and health benefits of sport participation for youth with physical disabilities.
- Sur, M., & Jung, J., Shapiro, D. R. (in press). Theory of planned behavior to promote physical activity of adults with physical disabilities: Meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Disability and Health Journal.
- Sur, MH, & Shapiro, D.R. (in review). A Comparative Review of the Theory of Planned Behavior for Adults with Physical Disabilities. European Journal of Adapted Physical
Activity.
- Barfield, A., & Shapiro, D. R. (2020) Wheelchair basketball exercise intensity in youth. Journal of Physical Activity Research, 5(1) 49-55 DOI:10.12691/jpar-5-1-10.
- Yao, WR., Shapiro, D.R., & Liao, CM. (2016). Parents motivation for participation in physical activity for children with impairments. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 9(1),3-14.
- Shapiro, D. R. & Martin, J. J. (2014). The relationships among sport self-perceptions and social well-being in athletes with physical disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 7(1), 42-48. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2013.06.002
- Martin, J. J., Shapiro, D. R., & Prokesova, E. (2013). Predictors of physical activity among European and American hearing impaired children. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 6(2), 38-47.
- Shapiro, D. R., & Martin, J. J. (2010). Multidimensional physical self concept of youth athletes with physical disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 27, 294-307.
- Shapiro, D. R., & Martin, J. J. (2010). Athletic identity, affect and peer relations in youth athletes with physical disabilities in adapted sport. Disability and Health Journal, 3, 79-85.
- Shapiro, D. R., Moffett, A., Lieberman, L, & Dummer, G. M. (April 2008). Domain Specific Ratings of Importance and Global Self-Worth of Children with Visual Impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 102, 232-244.
- Shapiro, D. R., Moffett, A., Lieberman, L. J., & Dummer, G. (2005). Perceived competence of children with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 99, 15-25.