Facilitators and barriers to physical activity experienced and perceived by adults with intellectual disability

Abstract

Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience high rates of health conditions that can be prevented and improved through health-promoting behaviours; however, they engage in considerably low levels of physical activity, the reasons for which are often multi-faceted and not always self-evident. This study utilized qualitative phenomenological inquiry, grounded in both the interpretivist and transformative paradigms, to explore the perspectives of adults with ID (n=13) of facilitators and barriers to their physical activity. Two focus groups were guided by semi-structured interview questions. Thematic analysis produced four facilitator themes (Individual, Support, Programs, Resources) and three barrier themes (Internal, External, and Not Recognizing or Understanding Barriers). The results suggest that adults with ID face a number of facilitators and barriers to their physical activity, which often act in combination to influence participation. Understanding these factors can lead to the development and implementation of well-informed strategies to increase physical activity in this population.