Application of The Theory of Reason Action in Public Acceptance towards Physical Activity Participation among People with Disabilities

Abstract

Being supported and accepted in communities is essentials for people with disabilities to get involved in physical activity together with community members. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980) was adopted as the fundamental for this study because people’s intention or motivation was the determinant of their behavior. To further study this problem, the present research aims to examine the influence of public’s attitude and subjective norms on acceptance towards people with disabilities participation in physical activity. An exploratory model of public acceptance was developed. Using convenience sampling technique, a total of 444 responses were collected from the public (without disabilities), who were exercising at four urban public recreation parks located in Klang Valley. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the data collected and identify the relationship of the attitude and subjective norms with the public acceptance. Correlation coefficient showed that there was a low relationship (.270), p=.001<.05 between the attitude construct and public acceptance. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. Future study can include meaningful assessment of other different factors, including their moderating effects. Implications of the result for future practice and directions of research were discussed.