Faculty
Health Sciences
Supervisor Name
Laura Misener
Keywords
Social Determinants of health, sport, para-sport, disability sport, sport engagement
Description
As the number of individuals with a disability grows worldwide, the Paralympic Games and para-sports have seen a growth in participation (WHO, 2011). However, international sporting competitions including the Paralympic Games remain dominated by developed countries (Andreff, 2001). In the last Paralympic Games, the USA, Canada, and Brazil made up nearly 70% of participants from the North and South American region with 17 of the 28 committees sending five or less participants (Maleske & Sant, 2020). The present study investigates the social and cultural determinants in the Caribbean and Americas of para-sport participation in the region and their relation to para-sport involvement. This paper presents a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with regional committee executives and athletes to better understand how social and health determinants impact para-sport involvement. Analysis indicated there are widespread challenges to involvement in sport experienced in the Caribbean and America’s region. These include: minimal financial support and capacity; limited opportunity within educational systems; a general unfamiliarity with para-sport that is combined with a mainstream negative perception of disability; and several structural barriers reducing accessibility. These findings mirror existing literature and stress the complex combination of social and cultural factors that pose challenges to the establishment of and engagement in para-sport. Future research and program initiatives that aim to assist the region’s para-sport movement must look beyond ordinary monetary stimulus and consider contextualized support which may involve raising awareness, improving administrative structures, and promoting grassroots development of athletes and other human resources.
Acknowledgements
Dr. Laura Misener and Dr. Nancy Quinn
Document Type
Paper
video presentation of paper
Included in
Kinesiology Commons, Sports Sciences Commons, Sports Studies Commons
The Influence of the Social Determinants of Health on Para-sports Involvement Throughout the Caribbean and Americas
As the number of individuals with a disability grows worldwide, the Paralympic Games and para-sports have seen a growth in participation (WHO, 2011). However, international sporting competitions including the Paralympic Games remain dominated by developed countries (Andreff, 2001). In the last Paralympic Games, the USA, Canada, and Brazil made up nearly 70% of participants from the North and South American region with 17 of the 28 committees sending five or less participants (Maleske & Sant, 2020). The present study investigates the social and cultural determinants in the Caribbean and Americas of para-sport participation in the region and their relation to para-sport involvement. This paper presents a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with regional committee executives and athletes to better understand how social and health determinants impact para-sport involvement. Analysis indicated there are widespread challenges to involvement in sport experienced in the Caribbean and America’s region. These include: minimal financial support and capacity; limited opportunity within educational systems; a general unfamiliarity with para-sport that is combined with a mainstream negative perception of disability; and several structural barriers reducing accessibility. These findings mirror existing literature and stress the complex combination of social and cultural factors that pose challenges to the establishment of and engagement in para-sport. Future research and program initiatives that aim to assist the region’s para-sport movement must look beyond ordinary monetary stimulus and consider contextualized support which may involve raising awareness, improving administrative structures, and promoting grassroots development of athletes and other human resources.