Exploring parents' experiences of promoting physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities.

INTRODUCTION: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities participate in low levels of physical activity and have a greater reliance on their parents to provide activity opportunities. This study explored parents' experiences of promoting physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight parents of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were independently coded and analysed by two researchers using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes and nine subthemes were identified. Overall, parents had positive views of physical activity. However, parents face numerous barriers that limit their ability to promote physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Parents experience high levels of exclusion and stigma that negatively affect their promotion of physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. Overcoming the barriers faced by parents could therefore be an indirect method to increase physical activity in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

Gender differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disabilities are reported to be highly inactive, with research required to understand contributory factors. This systematic review aimed to investigate gender differences in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) in adults with intellectual disabilities. METHODS: This systematic review was reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Seven databases were searched up to, and including, January 2018. Screening identified papers that assessed gender-specific PA and/or SB outcomes in adults with intellectual disabilities. Data were synthesized using a narrative synthesis and random effects model meta-analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-six papers were included; 25 measured PA, and eight assessed SB. Women with intellectual disabilities were least active with a significant overall effect of gender identified. For SB, no consistent gender differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Reflecting the general population, men with intellectual disabilities were most active. Intellectual disability research should consider the role of gender to inform future interventions targeting inactivity.