Investigation of physical self-perception and sports participation motivations of physically disabled individuals

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim of examining the physical self-perceptions of individuals with physical disabilities and their motivation to participate in sports. Data were collected from a total of 459 physically disabled individuals, 280 males, and 179 females, using the "Personal Demographic Information Form", the "Physical Self-Perception for Children and Young People (CY-PSPP) Inventory" developed by Whitehead (1995), and the "Motivation Scale for Sports Participation in Disabled Individuals" developed by Tekkurşun (2018). In the research, the T-Test and One-Way ANOVA analysis were used to determine the differences between demographic variables, the Post-Hoc Tukey test was used to determine the differences between groups, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between variables. When sports participation motivation is examined by gender, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation sub-dimensions; It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the amotivation sub-dimension. According to the disability type variable, there was no statistically significant difference in the physical strength sub-dimension; It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the sub-dimensions of general self, physical self, physical condition, sports competence and physical attractiveness. When physical self-perception was examined according to gender variable, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in the sub-dimensions of general self, physical attractiveness, and physical strength; It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the sub-dimensions of physical self, physical condition and sports competence. According to the disability type variable, there was no statistically significant difference in the physical strength sub-dimension; It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the sub-dimensions of general self, physical self, physical condition, sports competence and physical attractiveness. Again, age and active sports variables were examined in our research, and different results were obtained in their sub-dimensions. If disabled individuals are provided with a closer bond to society through sports, they will have a stronger physical self-perception and increase their motivation to participate in sports.