Care staff intentions to support adults with an intellectual disability to engage in physical activity: An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Abstract

Researchers suggest that people with an intellectual disability (ID) undertake less physical activity than the general population and many rely, to some extent, on others to help them to access activities. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model was previously found to significantly predict the intention of care staff to facilitate a healthy diet in those they supported. The present study examined whether the TPB was useful in predicting the intentions of 78 Scottish care staff to support people with ID to engage in physical activity. Regression analyses indicated that perceived behavioural control was the most significant predictor of both care staff intention to facilitate physical activity and reported physical activity levels of the people they supported. Attitudes significantly predicted care staff intention to support physical activity, but this intention was not itself significantly predictive of reported activity levels. Increasing carers' sense of control over their ability to support clients' physical activity may be more effective in increasing physical activity than changing their attitudes towards promoting activity.

Motor activation in people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in daily practice

“…Direct support persons can, in general, accept and adopt the principles of physical activation of people with intellectual disability, but to what extent they think these are also applicable to persons with PIMD and implement them is unknown. Research on people with intellectual disability in general shows that the attitudes of direct support persons are associated with levels of physical activity (Martin, McKenzie, Newman, Bowden, & Morris, 2011). The results of this study might be explained by the fact that direct support persons believe that people with such profound intellectual and motor disabilities cannot move, or alternatively, cannot profit from movement-oriented activities, although several studies prove otherwise (Houwen et al, 2014; Jones et al, 2007; Ogg-Groenendaal, Hermans, & Claessens, 2014;van der Putten et al, 2005).…”

How to Design an Exercise Program TO Reduce Inflammation in Obese People With Down Syndrome

“…Conversely, inactive role models, competing demands and time pressures, unsafe environments, lack of adequate facilities, insufficient funds, and inadequate access to quality daily physical education seem to be more prevalent among populations with special needs. The establishment of short-term goals, emphasizing variety and enjoyment, and positive reinforcement through documented progress toward goals can help spark and sustain the motivation for participation [14,27,34].…”

“…However, researchers suggest that people with an intellectual disability undertake less physical activity than the general population and many rely, to some extent, on others to help them to access activities [34,38].…”

Attitudes and perceptions of people with a learning disability, family carers, and paid care workers towards cancer screening programmes in the United Kingdom: A qualitative systematic review and meta‐aggregation

“…Multiple theoretical models of behaviour change suggest that attitudes are significant including the theory of reasoned action, the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), and the persuasion theory . Previous research utilising TPB with PwLD has examined the intentions of paid care workers to support engagement in physical activity and encourage healthy eating behaviour . Both of these studies highlight that attitudes have an influential role in intentions to change behaviour; however, this has not yet been established for cancer screening.…”