Conference Agenda
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Daily Overview |
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GR1_3_2: Abstract presentation: Promoting Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: From Evidence to Action Location: Glass room 1 Session Chair: Jan Seghers | |
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12:05pm - 12:08pm
Physical activity disparities among children with disabilities: an all-island comparative study of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland 1: Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; 2: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland; 3: School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 4: Sport, Leisure and Childhood Studies department, Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland; 5: School of Education, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; 6: School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; 7: Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland; 8: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Medical Biology Centre, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.; 9: Institute of Sports Science and Innovation, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania; 10: Department of Teacher Training, Turku Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Finland; 11: Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; 12: School of Education, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland Background and Aim: Pupils with disabilities are disproportionately affected by physical inactivity, placing them at greater risk of adverse health outcomes. This first population-level study aimed to quantify PA among pupils with disabilities and compare levels with peers without disabilities across jurisdictions and school level (primary and post-primary). Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from Ireland's 2022 CSPPA study, capturing self-reported disability status and days of MVPA in the past week (categorised into 4 groups; 0-2 days = reference). Complex samples analysis accounted for school clustering; logistic regression examined disability status and PA outcome associations, stratified by region and school level, controlling for age, gender, and family affluence. Results: The final sample (n=8,889; 48% male, 49% female, 3% other); 28.5% from NI (n=2530); primary school: NI=25%, ROI=26%. Disability prevalence was ~25% (NI=26%, ROI=24%). Daily MVPA was greater among pupils without disabilities than with disabilities across all strata (NI primary OR=2.4, 1.3-4.5; NI post-primary OR=2.1, 1.4-3.0; ROI primary OR=2.7, 1.7-4.2; ROI post-primary OR=1.9, 1.5-2.5). Significant differences were also observed for cognitive difficulties (REF) vs no difficulties: NI post-primary (OR=2.3, 1.4-3.7); ROI primary (OR=2.1, 1.1-3.8); ROI post-primary (OR=1.4, 1.0-1.9); and behavioural difficulties (REF) vs no difficulties: NI primary (OR=2.8, 1.3-6.0); NI post-primary (OR=3.2, 2.0-5.1); ROI primary (OR=2.5, 1.5-4.3); ROI post-primary (OR=1.6, 1.3-2.0). Conclusions: Marked disparities in daily PA exist between pupils with and without disabilities in both countries, highlighting the need for inclusive strategies. Findings should inform PE/PA/Sport policy and inclusion frameworks. Funding: Sport Ireland, Sport NI, Healthy Ireland (Sport Ireland 2021 #1246). | |
