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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the meaning that young adults with visual impairments ascribe to their youth leisure-time physical activity experiences. This study adopted an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research approach. Ten participants (aged 21-34 years; eight women, two men) with visual impairments were included in this study. Semi-structured, audio-taped telephone interviews acted as the primary source of data for this study. Data were analyzed thematically using a four-step process informed by IPA and three interrelated themes were constructed: (a) “I just always felt normal when I was doing them”: Preferences for unstructured activities, (b) “They didn’t baby me”: Importance of supportive parents, and (c) ““They didn’t know how to deal with my disability”: Comparing stakeholders in integrated versus self-contained sport”. The participants described a strong preference for unstructured physical activities and reported that support from parents was critical in allowing them to enjoy physical activities during youth.
Highlights
Developing a physically active lifestyle at an early age can enhance health, help manage weight gain, and decrease the chances of developing chronic health conditions throughout the lifespan (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015; Jimenez-Pavon, Kelly, & Reilly, 2010)
Research indicates that school-aged individuals with visual impairments tend to be less physically active than their sighted peers (Augestad & Jiang, 2015; Haegele & Porretta, 2015; Kozub & Oh, 2004), as well as those with other disabilities (Engel-Yeger & HamedDaher, 2013; Longmuir & Bar-Or, 2000; Williams et al, 2018), and are unlikely to meet recommended daily physical activity thresholds (Kozub, 2006; Wrzesinska, Lipert, Urzedowicz, & Pawlicki, 2018)
Among the most popular activities among the participants were swimming (Abby, Lisa, do it’ [when talking about physical activity]” (Daya)), hiking/walking (Bailey, Nate, Claire), bicycling (Lisa, Nate), or playing active games such as tag (Abby, Bailey, Daya). These activities paralleled those that are preferred among parents of children with visual impairments (Columna et al, 2017) as well as those that have been reported as the most popular among adult populations with visual impairments (Jaarsma, Dekker, Koopsmans, Dijkstra, & Geertzen, 2014)
Summary
Developing a physically active lifestyle at an early age can enhance health, help manage weight gain, and decrease the chances of developing chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes) throughout the lifespan (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015; Jimenez-Pavon, Kelly, & Reilly, 2010) Because of these health-related benefits, guidelines internationally recommend that youth engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, daily (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). Most research in this area of inquiry has been concerned with parents’ perspectives toward physical activity of their children with visual impairments (Columna, Fernandez-Vivo, Lieberman, & Arndt, 2015; Columna, Dillon, Norris, Dolphin, & McCabe, 2017; Perkins, Columna, Lieberman, & Bailey, 2013; Ward, Fansworth, Babkes-Stellino, & Perrett, 2011). Research in this area has demonstrated that parents value physical activity engagement for their children, and that preferred activities include those that are unstructured and integrated
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