Abstract

The participation of physically disabled people in sport is on the increase. In their evaluations participants refer to the possibilities of realizing personal, e.g. well-being, and social, e.g. emancipation, aims through sport. However, a large number of barriers with regard to sport participation is also experienced. In a survey among physically disabled people it became apparent that social and psychological variables are the most important determinants of the intention to and actual sport participation. Attitudes regarding sport participation: (1) intrinsic pleasure in sport and (2) the experience of barriers. Attitudes towards being disabled: (3) feelings of inferiority and (4) feelings of psychological and social incompetence. We therefore investigated changes in these attitudes with participants in a weekly recreational sport programme, lasting 7 months. Significant positive changes in two of the four dependent variables were measured, vid. the experience of barriers and feelings of inferiority. Verf.-Referat