Participation of Physically Disabled Individuals in Sports in Türkiye: Barriers and Supports

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 48 - 66

Ahmet Sansi , Erdal Çetin

https://doi.org/10.25307/jssr.1559713

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the participation processes of physically disabled athletes who gained success nationally and internationally and assessed what circumstances impeded and facilitated them in this process. The study used a qualitative research technique and interviewed individuals accordingly, which comprised 11 physically disabled athletes (19-32 years old) participating in professional sports competitions. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants, and the corresponding data were subsequently evaluated by content analysis. The data analysis revealed that physically disabled individuals experienced issues that potentially fall under preventive and supportive categories during their participation in sports. In this context, the study identified the protective approach, restrictive social environment, physical barriers to engaging in sports, and cost- and success-oriented practices as impeding conditions. Yet, it also revealed that supportive family and sports environment, motivation, and socialization-based favorable aspects encouraged the participation of individuals in sports. Considering the positive outcomes of sports in the lives of disabled individuals, it is crucial to foster supportive attitudes and behaviors and to minimize impeding attitudes and conditions so that they can engage in sports activities and professional competitions.

Keywords

Athletes with physical disabilities, Barriers, Supports, Elite sport

References

• Aitchison, B., Rushton, A. B., Martin, P., Barr, M., Soundy, A., & Heneghan, N. R. (2022). The experiences and perceived health benefits of individuals with a disability participating in sport: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Disability and health journal, 15(1), 1-6. [CrossRef]
• Alizadeh, A., & Cobuliev, Z. (2021). Psychological and social factors influencing the development of sports for athletes with disabilities in Tajikistan. Sport Psychology Studies, 10(35), 19-36. [CrossRef]
• Allan, V., Smith, B., Côté, J., Martin Ginis, K., & Latimer-Cheung, A. (2018). Narratives of participation among individuals with physical disabilities: A life-course analysis of athletes' experiences and development in parasport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 37, 170–178. [CrossRef]
• Ascondo, J., Martín-López, A., Iturricastillo, A., Granados, C., Garate, I., Romaratezabala, E., & Yanci, J. (2023). Analysis of the barriers and motives for practicing physical activity and sport for people with a disability: Differences according to gender and type of disability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1320–1333. [CrossRef]
• Aslan, M., & Şeker, S. (2011). Engellilere yönelik toplumsal algı ve dışlanmışlık (Siirt örneği). Siirt Üniversitesi Sosyal Haklar Uluslararası Sempozyumu.
• Aykara, A. (2011). Kaynaştırma eğitimi sürecindeki bedensel engelli öğrencilerin sosyal uyumlarını etkileyen etmenler ve okul sosyal hizmeti. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 22(1), 63–84.
• Babaoğlu, C. (2018). Türkiye’de anakentlerde engellilere yönelik hizmetler ve sorun alanları. Tesam Akademi Dergisi, Yerel Yönetimler Özel Sayısı, 79–110. [CrossRef]
• Baffoe, M. (2013). Stigma, discrimination & marginalization: Gateways to oppression of persons with disabilities in Ghana, West Africa. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 3(1), 187–198. [CrossRef]
• Barnes, C. (1995). Disability rights: Rhetoric and reality in the UK. Disability & Society, 10(1), 111–116. [CrossRef]
• Berardi, A., Galeoto, G., Lucibello, L., Panuccio, F., Valente, D., & Tofani, M. (2021). Athletes with disability’satisfaction with sport wheelchairs: an Italian cross sectional study. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16(4), 420-424. [CrossRef]
• Bourdieu, P. (2015). Ayrım. Beğeni yargısının toplumsal eleştirisi. Heretik Yayıncılık.
• Burke, P. J. (1980). The self: Measurement implications from a symbolic interactionist perspective. Social Psychology Quarterly, 43, 18-29. [CrossRef]
• Çaha, H. (2016). Engellilerin toplumsal hayata katılmasına yönelik politikalar: Türkiye, ABD ve Japonya örnekleri. İnsan ve Toplum, 5(10), 123-150. [CrossRef]
• Chao, R. C. L. (2011). Managing stress and maintaining well-being: Social support, problem-focused coping, and avoidant coping. Journal of Counseling and Development, 89(3), 338-348. [CrossRef]
• Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory. Sage Publications.
• Chen, M., Li, Q., & Wang, L. (2024). Understanding factors influencing people with disabilities’ participation in sports and cultural activities. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 389-400. [CrossRef]
• Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357. [CrossRef]
• Connell, R. (2013). Gender and power: Society, the person, and sexual politics. John Wiley & Sons.
• Department of Health, & Human Services. (2000). Healthy people 2010: Understanding and improving health.
• Doğan, Ç. (2008). Engelliler: Postmodern kapitalizmin sakatları. Birikim Dergisi, 229, 36-44.
• Ersöz, E. (2020). Engellilere yönelik ayrımcılık ve makul uyumlaştırma kavramı. Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(2), 149-163. [CrossRef]
• Güler, B., Demir, G. T., & Dursun, M. (2019). Bedensel engelli bireylerin spor ve sporcu kavramına yönelik metaforik algıları. In G. Hergüner (Ed.), Her yönüyle spor I (ss. 291-309). Güven Plus Grup A.Ş. Yayınları.
• Healthy People. (2000). National health promotion and disease prevention objectives (DHHS Publication No. [PHS] 91–50212). U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Ives, B., Clayton, B., Brittain, I., & Mackintosh, C. (2021). ‘I’ll always find a perfectly justified reason for not doing it’: Challenges for disability sport and physical activity in the United Kingdom. Sport in Society, 24(4), 588-606. [CrossRef]
• Jaarsma, E. A., Dijkstra, P. U., De Blécourt, A. C., Geertzen, J. H., & Dekker, R. (2015). Barriers and facilitators of sports in children with physical disabilities: A mixed-method study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(18), 1617-1625. [CrossRef]
• 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(6), 871-881. [CrossRef]
• James, R., Arthur-Banning, S. G., & Domka, M. (2021). Exploring the impact of soccer camp on social identity for youth with cerebral palsy. Journal of Sport for Development, 9(2), 1-13.
• Keskin, B., Güvendi, B., & Altıncı, E. E. (2014). Sporun bedensel engellilerin sosyalleşmeleri üzerine etkisi. I. Uluslararası Spor Bilimleri Turizm ve Rekreasyon Öğrenci Kongresi, Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Antalya.
• Kirchner, C. E., Gerber, E. G., & Smith, B. C. (2008). Designed to deter: Community barriers to physical activity for people with visual or motor impairments. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 34, 349-352. [CrossRef]
• Kumcağız, H., & Avcı-Çayır, G. (2018). Determining views about the effect of sport on the quality of life of people with physical disabilities. Inonu University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 19(3), 654-669. [CrossRef]
• Lobenius-Palmér, K., Sjöqvist, B., Hurtig-Wennlöf, A., & Lundqvist, L. O. (2018). Accelerometer-assessed physical activity and sedentary time in youth with disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 35(1), 1-19. [CrossRef]
• Majnemer, A., Shevell, M., Law, M., Birnbaum, R., Chilingaryan, G., Rosenbaum, P., & Poulin, C. (2008). Participation and enjoyment of leisure activities in school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 50(10), 751-758. [CrossRef]
• Martin, J. J., & Mushett, C. A. (1996). Social support mechanisms among athletes with disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 13(1), 74-83. [CrossRef]
• Mckinnon, A., Bassett-Gunter, R. L., Fraser-Thomas, J., & Arbour-Nicitopoulos, K. P. (2022). Understanding sport as a vehicle to promote positive development among youth with physical disabilities. Journal of Sport for Development, 10(2), 55-71.
• Mckenzie, G., Willis, C., & Shields, N. (2021). Barriers and facilitators of physical activity participation for young people and adults with childhood‐onset physical disability: A mixed methods systematic review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 63(8), 914-924. [CrossRef]
• Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Sage Publications.
• Nazlı, A. (2012). Öteki beden: Bir ötekilik biçimi olarak engelli beden ve engellilik. Sosyoloji Dergisi, 27, 15-32.
• Neufeldt, A. H., & Mathieson, R. (1994). Empirical dimensions of discrimination against disabled people. Health & Human Rights, 1(2), 174-189. [CrossRef]
• Ravesloot, C., Myers, A., Santasier, A., & Ward, B. (2022). Effects of an exercise intervention on participation reported by people with disabilities: A Mixed methods randomized trial. Disability and Health Journal, 5(3), 101272. [CrossRef]
• Richardson, E. V., Smith, B., & Papathomas, A. (2017). Disability and the gym: Experiences, barriers and facilitators of gym use for individuals with physical disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(19), 1950-1957. [CrossRef]
• Rimmer, J. H. (1999). Health promotion for people with disabilities: The Emerging paradigm shift from disability prevention to prevention of secondary conditions. Physical Therapy, 79, 495-502. [CrossRef]
• Rimmer, J. H., Riley, B., Wang, E., Rauworth, A., & Jurkowski, J. (2004). Physical activity participation among persons with disabilities: Barriers and facilitators. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26(5), 419-425. [CrossRef]
• Rimmer, J. H. & Marques, A. C. (2012). Physical activity for people with disabilities. Lancet, 380(9838), 193-195. [CrossRef]
• Rueger, S. Y., Malecki, C. K., Pyun, Y., Aycock, C., & Coyle, S. (2016). A Meta-analytic review of the association between perceived social support and depression in childhood and adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 142(10), 1017-1067. [CrossRef]
• Saugeres, L. (2011). (Un) Accommodating disabilities: Housing, marginalization and dependency in Australia. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 26(1), 1-15. [CrossRef]
• Stephens, C., Neil, R., & Smith, P. (2012). The perceived benefits and barriers of sport in spinal cord injured individuals: A Qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 34(24), 2061-2070. [CrossRef]
• Taub, D. E., & Greer, K. R. (2000). Physical activity as a normalizing experience for school-age children with physical disabilities. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 24(4), 395-414. [CrossRef]
• Tekkurşun-Demir, G., & İlhan, E. L. (2020). Engelli sporcularda spora katılım motivasyonu. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Özel Eğitim Dergisi, 21(1), 49-69. [CrossRef]
• WHO. (2011). World report on disability: A review. Disability and Health.
• Wickman, K. (2015). Experiences and perceptions of young adults with physical disabilities on sports. Social Inclusion, 3(3), 39-50. [CrossRef]
• Valis, J., & Gonzalez, M. (2017). Physical activity differences for college students with disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 10(1), 87-92. [CrossRef]
• Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2013). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
• Yılmaz-Anatca, V., & Yılmaz, C. (2019). Ucube bedenden paralimpik bedene. SDÜ Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 46, 136-157. [CrossRef]