The effects of group-based exercise on physical health and participation in individuals with developmental disabilities
Date of Award
Winter 1-22-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Kinesiology (PhD)
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Stephen Ross
Second Advisor
Katie Fischer
Third Advisor
Diane Harr
Abstract
Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience barriers for optimal physical health and participation. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a group-based exercise intervention on physical health and participation in individuals with developmental disabilities. Thirty individuals 18-65 were randomly selected based on specific inclusion criteria to participate with 15 subjects in a control and intervention group. A questionnaire assessing participation constraints as well as pre and post body composition measurements were implemented before and after an eight-week group-based exercise program. A paired sample t-test demonstrated no significant differences in pre and post measures for weight, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, body mass index, or percent of body fat in the control or intervention groups. However, a paired sample t test demonstrated a significant difference in community/organization constraints, intrinsic constraints, and interpersonal constraints in the intervention group. In the community/organization constraint, the mean constraint scores decreased from 2.6015 to 1.3309, t (14)=4.593, p< 0.001, d=1.186. In the intrapersonal constraint dimension, mean test scores decreased from 2.1905 to 1.6162, t(14)=2.994, p=0.010, d=0.773. The interpersonal constraint dimension means scores decreased from 2.9111 to 1.6444, t(14)=3.612, p=0.003, d=0.933.