Explaining the socialization process of people with disabilities through sports activities

Introduction: This research aimed to explain the socialization process of people with disabilities through sports activities using a grounded theory approach.Method: The study was conducted within the framework of an interpretive perspective and a qualitative methodological approach.Using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory methodology, the research proceeded in three main stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding.Data collection included library research and interviews, being conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved.To ensure reliability, the within-subject agreement method was applied to evaluate the consistency of the interviews.Findings: The identified components include causal conditions (environment, secondary institutions, family support, and motivations), contextual conditions (procedural justice, facilities, social security, infrastructure, participation development, policies and approaches, and the intersection of disability and sports), and intervening conditions (the role of teachers, immediate obstacles, educational costs, cultural development, media, awareness-raising, and public sports promotion).Discussion: The findings demonstrated that causal factors such as environment, secondary institutions, family support, and motivation significantly influence the socialization of people with disabilities.Strategies like psychological empowerment and fostering self-sufficiency were particularly impactful.By presenting a new model, this study extends the theory of sports socialization and raises public awareness about the importance of sports activities for individuals with disabilities.Furthermore, it underscores the role of sports communication and the acquisition of sports-related skills in the socialization process.