An exploration of the sport and physical activity motivations experienced by people with a disability in Scotland

Participation in sport and physical activity is associated with many physical and mental benefits(Khan et al., 2012), particularly for individuals with a disability (Darcy and Dowse, 2013; Jaarsma etal., 2014a; Jaarsma et al., 2014b). However, despite this, people with disabilities (PWD) in Scotlandare significantly less active in comparison to non-disabled people (Scottish Health Survey, 2020).Although a significant amount of research has taken place to explore disability and sportsparticipation, the last research piece on this topic within Scotland took place in 2001 and did notexplore people with disabilities’ motivations for participation (Suphi et al., 2001). In an attempt toincrease awareness of people with disabilities’ motivations in relation to sport and informunderstanding around participation a mixed method approach was used to research individuals’lived experience. Deci and Ryan’s (2002) self-determination theory (SDT) was also applied to provideinsight into the motivations of individuals with disabilities who currently participate in sport inScotland. A questionnaire which explored participant motivations was sent out to a number ofdisability organisations and disseminated on social media platforms. A total of 450 responses (51 M,47 F, 1 prefer not to say) were collected from individuals with different disability types (Physical =403, Intellectual=174, Sight= n29, Hearing =n43, cardio respiratory =n76 Other=n 95) who participatein sport and physical activity at various levels, with the largest number of participants taking part ata recreational level (45% of sample), followed by those competing at a local level (23%). Sport andphysical activity type was varied with the most popular activities being walking/pushing activities(14.2% ), swimming (12.7%) and gym/weight training (7.5% of sample). The sample age rangespanned between 12 and 70. Six online focus groups also took place with a diverse range ofparticipants. Topics covered included perceived benefits and motivations for taking part in sport.Findings suggest that there are a range of factors which influence participant motivations which alllink with self-determination theory, these include the physical and psychological impact ofparticipation, the community surrounding disability sport and factors associated with disability suchas feelings of acceptance and escapism. Furthermore, disability type can influence the significance ofdifferent motivational factors. These discoveries bring new insights around the motivations peopleexperience, particularly in relation to disability type in Scotland. Recommendations includeadditional training opportunities to develop disability confidence as this can impact individuals’experiences and motivation levels.