Effect of Unified Sport on Maladaptive Behaviors Among Special Olympics Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of participating in a Unified Bowling program on maladaptive behaviors among Special Olympics athletes. Athletes aged 11 to 68 years with a mean age of 32 years h=40), participated in a 12-week Unified Bowling program. A comparison group of individuals aged 16 to 68 years with a mean age of 34 years (11=40), was matched on demographic variables and was instructed not to participate in any socially inclusive recreation p r e gram during the 12-week study. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was administered to parents before, immediately following, and 18 months after the 12-week study. A measure of maladaptive behaviors was derived from responses to the CBCL. Separate 2 (Group) x 3 (Time) repeated measures MANOVA was computed on internal and external maladaptive behaviors. Results revealed a significant multivariate interaction effect of Group x Time. Univariate contrasts to determine the significance of internal and external maladaptive behaviors over time were also computed. Results showed that the treatment group reported significantly lower internalizing and externalizing scores over time. implications for practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.

A systematic literature review of the physical and psychosocial correlates of Special Olympics participation among individuals with intellectual disability

“…Dykens & Cohen ; Rosegard et al . ). Demographic information on participants' diagnoses or level of cognitive impairment was often not provided ( n = 20; 43%; e.g.…”

“…Rosegard et al . ) and active individuals with ID ( n = 11; e.g. Gençöz ), in addition to active and inactive typically developing individuals ( n = 6; e.g.…”

“…aggression; Rosegard et al . ). Socially, SO participation was consistently correlated with increased social skills and friendships (e.g.…”

Creating Opportunities and Ensuring Access to Leisure and Recreation Services though Inclusion in the Global Community

“…Rosegard et al (2001) assert that it is not enough for the social forces that helped facilitate the integration of persons with disabilities to simply recognize that a broad range of services must be offered in physically accessible environments. Finally, services and programs must be provided in physically and socially barrier-free environments that enable participation to occur without regard to the level of dependence or level of functioning (Schleien, 1993;Zoerink & Rosegard, 1997).…”

“…Special Olympics International has been criticized for its role in segregating individuals with intellectual disabilities, but the fact remains that the initial programs have led to millions of individuals coming out of institutions, sheltered environments, and reaching independent levels of living not heretofore realized (Rosegard, Pegg, & Compton, 2001).…”