L'activitat física de l'alumnat universitari amb discapacitat: correlats sociodemogràfics, psicosocials i de l'entorn/physical activity of university students with disabilities: sociodemographic, psychosocial and environmental correlates
- Autores: Joan Úbeda Colomer
- Directores de la Tesis: José Devís Devís (dir. tes.), Kathleen Martin Ginis (codir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universitat de València ( España ) en 2019
- Idioma: español
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Enrique García Bengoechea (presid.), Raúl Reina Vaíllo (secret.), MªDolores Soler Fernández (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Actividad Física y Deporte por la Universitat de València (Estudi General)
- Materias:
- Enlaces
- Tesis en acceso abierto en: TESEO
- Resumen
Physical activity (PA) has been shown to have positive effects on the health, well-being and quality of life of people with disabilities. However, several studies have found that people with disabilities engage in PA to a lesser extent than the general population. In the light of the foregoing, the design and development of interventions focused on increasing and improving PA participation of people with disabilities should thus be a major goal of public health policies. The overall purpose of this doctoral thesis is to study the PA of Spanish university students with disabilities and its sociodemographic, psychosocial and environmental correlates, in order to generate valuable knowledge for the design of university health policies aiming to encourage physically active lifestyles among this population. To do so, the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the social ecological theory of health promotion are used.
Participants for this cross-sectional survey study were recruited through the disability care services of Spanish universities. A total of 1264 university students with different disabilities (physical, mental disorder, sensory, chronic illness or multiple disabilities) were surveyed. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the reduced Spanish version of the Barriers to Physical Activity for People with Mobility Impairments and a Theory of Planned Behaviour questionnaire were used for data collection. Different statistical analyses such as non-parametric tests, confirmatory factor analysis, multiple regression and path analysis were used for data analysis.
A high percentage (63.1%) of university students with disabilities do not meet any of the World Health Organization PA recommendations. Moreover, students with multiple disabilities, chronic illnesses, acquired disabilities, older students, obese students and women report less PA than their counterparts in the different PA domains. Intrapersonal barriers such as pain, fatigue, lack of motivation and lack of confidence have been found to be the most important, especially for women, students with multiple disabilities, students with higher disability grade and older students. Organizational barriers such as the lack of adapted PA programs and their economic cost or the lack of training of staff at fitness centres also stand out as relevant factors, especially in students with multiple disabilities, physical disability or higher disability grade. Interpersonal barriers such as the inactivity of friends and family affect older students and students with multiple disabilities to a greater extent. Finally, community barriers, such as inaccessible sidewalks or potholes in the streets, are more relevant for students with multiple disabilities, physical disability and higher disability grades. It is also relevant to highlight that self-efficacy and controllability have been shown as direct predictors of PA, with women scoring lower than men on both constructs. In addition, intentions and social ecological barriers have been shown as direct predictors of PA as well, and different social ecological levels of barriers have been revealed as self-efficacy and controllability predictors.
In conclusion, the present doctoral thesis provides valuable knowledge for developing university health policies addressed to students with disabilities. The results obtained could be a starting point for the sports services and disability care services of these institutions in order to design and implement PA behaviour change interventions that increase and improve the access of this population to the benefits of an active lifestyle.
