title: Barriers to and facilitators of sports participation in people with visual impairments.
abstract: We examined barriers to and facilitators of sports participation in people with visual impairments. Participants registered at Royal Visio, Bartiméus, and the Eye Association were invited to complete a questionnaire (telephone or online). Six hundred forty-eight of the invited participants (13%) completed the questionnaire, and 63% of the respondents reported sports participation. Walking (43%), fitness (34%), and cycling (34%) were frequently mentioned sports. Costs, lack of peers/buddies, and visual impairment were negatively associated with sports participation, whereas higher education and computer (software) use were positively associated. The most important personal barrier was visual impairment; transport was the most important environmental barrier. Active participants also mentioned dependence on others as a personal barrier. The most important personal facilitators were health, fun, and social contacts; support from family was the most important environmental facilitator. To improve sports participation in people with visual impairments, the emphasis in a sports program should be on the positive aspects of sports, such as fun, health, and social contacts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eva A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.forename: Rienk
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: Pieter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: Jan H B
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Geertzen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010358:Patient Participation; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data