Scheduled for Research Consortium Poster Session: Thematic Motor Behavior and Special Populations Posters, Friday, March 16, 2007, 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Area I


Assessing College Students With Disabilities Satisfaction With Campus Recreational Physical Activity Programs

Taeho Yoh and Matt Crouch, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

Although the benefits of physical activity for people with disabilities have been well documented, research has shown that people with disabilities are significantly less likely to participate in physical activity and sports than people without disabilities (Surgeon General's Report, 1996). Particularly, only 12% of people with disabilities over age 18 participated in moderate physical activity (Healthy People 2001, 2000). The level of participation in physical activity declines during adolescence and had the most rapid decrease in the college period. The decline in physical activity in adolescence and young adulthood is a disturbing trend because many adult health behaviors are established during late adolescence and early adulthood. Although it has been a very important issue for college administrators and physical educators, there was a death of research on the issue of college students and their satisfaction with campus recreational activity programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the satisfaction of college students with physical disabilities with campus recreational programs covering 4 factors: (a) the advertising of recreational programs, (b) the accessibility and availability of recreational facilities, (c) the school recreational activity programs, and (d) the quality of the program staff, to provide recommendations to increase their participation. Specifically, this study was designed to investigate if the college students with disabilities' satisfaction differs between their demographic backgrounds (gender, grade level). One hundred twenty-two (65 females and 57 males) college students with various physical disabilities participated. A survey with a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) was used to measure the degree of satisfaction. The results indicated that college students with disabilities' satisfaction with four factors was relatively low. Specifically, the score on the satisfaction with the advertisement of the recreational physical activity programs on campus was found to be the lowest (M = 2.59, SD = 1.09) among the four dimensions. Followed by the recreational activity programs (M = 2.81, SD = 0.72), the accessibility and availability of the facility and equipment (M = 3.06, SD = 0.92), and the quality of the program staff (M = 3.27, SD = 0.80). ANOVA found that there were statistical differences between participants' demographic backgrounds and satisfaction with the four factors of campus recreational activity programs. The related personnel in campus recreational programs for people with disabilities should utilize the findings of this study to provide students with disabilities better opportunities to participate in physical activities.
Keyword(s): exercise/fitness/physical activity

Back to the 2007 AAHPERD National Convention and Exposition (March 13 -- 17, 2007)