Kamil Yazicioglu, M.D., Ferdi Yavuz, M.D., Ahmet Salim Goktepe, M.D., Arif Kenan Tan, M.D.
Published Online: July 23, 2012
Disability and Health Journal, October 2012 Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages 249–253
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2012.05.003
Abstract
Background
The lack of controlled trials in the relationship between participation in adapted sports, and quality of life (QoL) and life satisfaction in people with physical disabilities encouraged us to consider conducting this study.
Objective
The aim of this study was to compare the QoL and life satisfaction scores between people with physical disabilities who participated in adapted sports and those who did not participate in any adapted sports.
Methods
This cross-sectional controlled study included 60 individuals with physical disabilities (paraplegia and amputee). Participants were divided into two groups based on sports participation and non-sports participation. Group one included 30 disabled elite athletes who participated in adapted sports. The control group included 30 disabled individuals not involved in any adapted sports. We compared scores on the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQoL-BREF) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) between the two groups. Participation in the community and QoL was examined as a reflection of participant’s priority on sports participation.
Results
We found that WHOQoL-BREF physical, psychological, and social domain scores were significantly higher in group one than in the control group (p < 0.05), whereas environment domain scores were similar (p = 0.13). Moreover, SWLS scores were significantly higher in group one than in the control group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
These results showed that people with physical disabilities who participated in adapted sports had significantly higher QoL and life satisfaction scores compared to people with physical disabilities not involved in any adapted sports.