Prof Jan Burns & Dr Clare Watts Self-esteem and participation in the Special Olympics
Dec 14, 2015
‘In 170 countries, Special Olympics enriches the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport.’
3.5 million members
Potential life experience for people with ID
• Obesity/under weight• Untreated sensory deficits• Untreated physical illnesses e.g. diabetes• Very low fitness• Low health literacy• Etc.
Poor physical health
Poor psychological health
Economically poor
Potential life experience for people with ID
Poor physical health
• High levels anxiety• High levels depression• High levels serious mental health problems• Increased likelihood dementia
Poor psychological health
Economically poor
Potential life experience for people with ID
Poor physical health
Poor psychological health
•V
• Very low income• High unemployment• Socially isolated• Educational opportunities low• Poor housing etc.
Economically poor
What we know about the impact of sport is....
Physical• Fitness• Disease
resilience
Social• Social
networks• Increased
activity
Affective• Alleviates
anxiety & depression
• Increases self-esteem etc.
Cognitive• Increased
attention• Increased
learning
Given we know that people with ID are vulnerable to all sorts of problems that research has shown can be alleviated by sports participation........ what does research tell us about the involvement of people with ID in sports?
Under researched
Area Example papers
Attitudes to ID Townsend & Hassall (2007); Freudenthal,. Boyd & Tivis (2001)
Intervention – behavioural psychosocial
Jones, Walley, Leech, Paterson, Common, & Metcalf (2007); Ninot & Maıäno (2007); Weiss, Diamond, Demark & Lovald (2003)
Intervention – physical health
Moss S. (2009); Marks, Sisirak, Heller, & Wagner (2010)
Health screening McCracken, Lumm & Laoide-Kemp (2011)
Family Weiss & Diamond (2005)
Participation Robertson & Emerson (2010); Gillespie (2008)
Methodology Peterson, Peterson, Lowe & Nothwehr (2009)
Reviews Hutzler & Korsensky (2010); Bartlo &. Klein (2011)
Research Aims
• Comparison study• UK based• Looking specifically at
psychosocial differences• Self-esteem• Stress• Social networks• Life Opportunities
Psychosocial impact of involvement in the Special Olympics UK
Special Olympics
(N 40)
MencapNo sport (N 34)
Mencap Sport (N 20)
MatchedgenderIQ (WASI)Opportunity (Life Experiences Checklist)Sport = 1 hour+ organised activity a week
MeasuresVariable Measure
IQ WASI (Wechsler, 1997) 2 subtest form
Opportunity Life Experiences Checklist (Ager, 1990)
Self-esteem Rosenberg Self-esteem Measure (Rosenberg, 1965)
Stress Life Stress Inventory (Bramston & Bostock, 1994)
Social Networks
Social Support Self Report (Lunsky & Benson, 1997)
Findings1. Groups were comparable, except on age
where SO and Mencap Sport were younger (mean SO, 32.5; Mencap sport 30.5, No sport, 42)
2. Self esteem and LEC positively were significantly correlated
3. Multiple regression analysis - to see if group membership predicted controlling for Life Experience Checklist (opportunity)
Findings
• Of the three groups only the Special Olympics group was predictive of higher levels of self-esteem
• Suggests there is something additional to playing sport that the Special Olympics offers
Future Research
• Longitudinal studies needed to strengthen evidence base
• How effective exercise regimes might be adapted
• This troublesome thing called IQ
• People with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome
• Thank youAny questions?
Acknowledgements This project was supported by a grant from SO US, volunteer research assistants, Special Olympics UK and Mencap