Loading...
Physical Activity and Functional Body Image in Youth with and without Visual Impairments
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Perreault, Melanie
Journal Title
Term and Year
Publication Date
2022-05
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Collections
Files
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Recent research has found a positive relationship between functional body image and physical
activity in typically developing youth; however, functional body image has not been studied in
youth with visual impairments (VI). Youth with VI tend to have a lower body image and engage
in less physical activity than their sighted peers. The purpose of this study was to determine
differences in functional body image between youth with and without VI and the relationship
between functional body image and physical activity in youth with VI. Twenty youth with VI
and 20 youth without disabilities completed the Embodied Image Scale and the organized sport
(OS) and active physical recreation (AR) activity categories of the Children’s Assessment of
Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE), which measures five dimensions of activity participation.
Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that participants with VI had lower functional satisfaction (p =
.006) and investment (p = .059) than participants without disabilities. The correlation analysis
revealed several significant positive relationships: functional values with AR where (r = .472),
functional satisfaction with AR intensity (r = .459) and AR enjoyment (r = .501), and functional
investment with AR (r = .554) and OS enjoyment (r = .655). There were significant negative
relationships between functional investment and AR diversity (r = -.475) and intensity (r = -
.501). This suggests that youth with VI have lower satisfaction and investment in their functional
body image; however, those that enjoyed OS and AR activities tended to be more satisfied and
invest more in their functional body image.