Examining the Attitudes of Families with Individuals with Special Needs About Physical Activities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of families with children with special needs living in Malatya city center towards physical activity. One-to-one interviews among families with children with disabilities were conducted to understand the participants' perspectives on physical activities, their level of knowledge about these activities, their children's participation and whether they believe in the benefits of these activities. The study was conducted in Malatya city center for families with individuals with special needs. For this purpose, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 33 parents who sent their children with special needs to physical activities and 22 parents who did not send their children with special needs to physical activities. Within the scope of the interview, families were asked; do you have information about physical activities, does your child regularly participate in physical activities, do you believe in the benefits of physical activities, if you do not send your child to physical activities, is there a reason. Questions were asked. The answers given by the families with individuals with special needs were categorized among themselves and statistically evaluated. Similar answers were evaluated in the same category. All of the parents who sent their children with special needs to physical activities 33 people and 8 parents who did not send their children with special needs to physical activities stated that they had information about physical activities, while those who did not send their children to physical activities 14 parents stated that they did not have information about physical activities. 33 parents stated that they regularly sent their children to physical activities, while 22 parents stated that they did not send their children to physical activities. According to the results of the study, the answers of the parents whose children participate in physical activities and those whose children do not participate in physical activities were categorized and analyzed. Similar answers about physical activities were grouped and subjected to statistical analysis. The participants' referral status of their children to physical activities, their level of knowledge about the activities, their belief in their benefits and the factors affecting participation were discussed in detail. All of the families who sent their children to physical activities stated that they had information about physical activities and believed in the benefits of physical activities, while most of the families who did not send their children to physical activities stated that they did not have information about physical activities and that they were not in search of physical activities due to lack of opportunities.