Do People with Intellectual Disabilities Have a Better Quality of Life If They Are Physically Active?

Abstract

In the context of the practice of physical sports activities (PSA), people with intellectual disabilities (PID) have up to a 62% lower possibility of responding to internationally agreed-upon physical activity requirements, showing a higher risk of presenting serious health problems. This study aimed to analyze the levels of perception towards the latent construct of quality of life that a PID who practices PSA would have with respect to those PIDs who do not practice PSA. The sample consisted of 371 PIDs, of whom 278 practiced PSA and 93 did not practice PSA. The instrument used for data collection was the INICO-FEAPS scale. Methodologically, 12 binary logistic regression models were fitted. The results identify greater possibilities of perception by PIDs who perform DFA at the level of self-determination (4.88 OR), rights (5.0 OR), social inclusion (2.06 OR), personal development (2.80 OR), interpersonal relationship (3.19 OR), material well-being (4.41 OR) and quality of life (3.97 OR). Furthermore, when grouping the dimensions by independence (3.67 OR), social (4.34 OR) and well-being (3.91 OR), the odds were favourable toward those PIDs performing PSA. In conclusion, PIDs who perform PSA may present greater possibilities of having the quality of life construct.