Physical activity and motivation in young adults with a physical disability: a multidimensional study based on a cross-sectional survey and an intervention-study

Abstract

Twenty years of experience at a rehabilitation centre has left me with an impression that young adults with a physical disability generally were not very engaged in physical activity, and a question whether this was a result of barriers related to the disability, the functioning, or environmental- or personal factors. An initial literature research also indicated that adults with a physical disability are on average less physically active than their able-bodied peers. However, the reason for this difference seemed to be an understudied issue. Therefore the aim of this thesis was to understand and try to find explanations for the physical activity behaviour of young adults with a physical disability, and whether this behaviour, motivation for it, and outcomes of it, could be influenced through an intervention.

Paper I: Saebu, M. (2010). Physical disability and physical activity: A review of the literature on correlates and associations. European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity, 3(2), 37-55. Published with permission of the European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity.

Paper II: Saebu, M., & Sorensen, M. (2010). Factors associated with physical activity among young adults with a disability. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01097.x

Paper III: Saebu, M., Sorensen, M., & Halvari, H. (2011). Motivation for physical activity in young adults with a physical disability during a rehabilitation stay: A longitudinal test of Self- Determination Theory. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, (Accepted for publication 29th of March, 2011).

Paper IV: Saebu, M., Halvari, H., & Sorensen, M. (2011). Autonomy support and perceived health after in-patient physical activity rehabilitation in young adults with a disability: The mediating role of needs satisfaction. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, (in review).