Research Article

Physical Activity and Exercise as Correlates of Physical Fitness, Health and Social Development of Persons with Intellectual Disability in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Oladimeji Oyeyemi Omolayo*

Department of Learners with Intellectual Disability, Federal College of Education, Oyo State, Nigeria

Submission:April 16, 2024; Published:May 06, 2024

*Corresponding author:Oladimeji Oyeyemi Omolayo, Department of Learners with Intellectual Disability, Federal College of Education, Oyo State, Nigeria, Email: oyeyemioladimeji02@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Oladimeji Oyeyemi O. Physical Activity and Exercise as Correlates of Physical Fitness, Health and Social Development of Persons with Intellectual Disability in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Glob J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2024; 13(4): 555867. DOI:10.19080/GJIDD.2024.13.555867

Abstract

Physical fitness of persons with Intellectual Disability (ID) is as important as their participation in any given task. Hence the study focused on physical activity and exercise as correlates of physical fitness, health and social development of persons with ID. Previous studies delved into various benefits of physical activities on several areas of development in persons with ID. Four research questions were raised and answered. The study adopted the descriptive research design of expost-facto of correlation type. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to draw a sample size of 54 respondents with intellectual disability from four special primary schools in Ibadan metropolis. The participants responded to a self-designed questionnaire on physical activity and exercise and the data obtained was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Regression statistical analysis. The result showed that there was a significant composite effect of physical activity on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability.

Also, there was a significant relative contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variable. Physical fitness (β = 0.536, t= 3.742, p < 0.05) indicates most potent contributor to the prediction, followed by social development (β = 0.223, t= 2.339, p < 0.05) and physical health (β = 0.049, t= .306, p > 0.05). The relative contributions of the independent variables, Physical fitness (β = 0.544, t= 4.288, p < 0.05) indicates most potent contributor to the prediction, follow by physical health (β = 0.242, t= 2.705, p < 0.05) has a relative contribution to physical activity and exercise among persons with intellectual disability, while social development (β = 0.045, t= .305, p > 0.05) has no relative contribution to physical activity and exercise among persons with intellectual disability. There was a significant composite effect of physical activity and exercise on fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. That is physical activity and exercise correlated positively physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. There was also a significant composite effect of physical activity and exercise on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. Based on the above results, recommendations were made to various stakeholders.

Keywords: Physical activity and Exercise; Physical fitness; Health; Social Development; Persons with Intellectual Disability

Abbreviations: ID: Intellectual Disability; PPMC: Pearson Product Moment Correlation

Introduction

Persons with Intellectual Disability (ID) are generally unfit due to lack of physical activities and their sedentary lifestyle. They display general body weakness and inconsistencies in their muscular strength and development. They find it difficult to walk distance and participate in indoor and outdoor activities that improve their physical fitness and sound health. Poor physical fitness has been the source of additional health problem for persons with ID. Majority of the cardiovascular diseases like diabetes mellitus and other poor mental health challenges had been from the risk factor of poor physical fitness of persons with ID (Andersen, Cooper, Riddoch, Sardinhad, Harroe, Bragef, and Andersen 2007). Golubovic, Maksimovic, Golubovic, and Glumbic, [1] maintained that a more elaborate physical activities may positively affect the physical fitness of persons with ID. However persons with ID have little or no knowledge of importance of physical activity and exercise to their physical fitness, health and social development.

Most persons with ID are inactive, inert and not physically sound as expected, the reason being that in most cases they constantly sit on a spot and they have fear navigating their environment and so find it difficult associating with others. Persons with ID find have problem integrating themselves into their immediate environment where they can be fully involved in physical activity and exercise. However, Golubovic et al, [1] posited that various studies have reported the positive effect of exercise in adult and children with ID with emphasis on weight loss and other related issues in persons with ID. There are various researches that have established the benefits and importance of physical activity and exercise and most especially among persons with ID. Lotan, Henderson and Merrick, [2] averred that physical, psychological and emotional benefits of participation in physical activity for people with disabilities have been widely documented.

When compared to their counterparts without disabilities, persons with ID cannot measure up to the state of fitness recorded in them as a result of their inactive lifestyle and restrictions placed on them due to their condition of incomplete mental development and other physical challenges that may concomitantly accompany their overall physical development. Most persons with ID are not allowed to actively participate in programs that can help them to be physically fit and which can as a result positively impact and improve their health and social development. Lotan, Isakov, Kessel and Merrick [3], maintained that of all the factors that were examined in their studies, inactive lifestyle of persons with ID was the most harmful to their physical fitness. This shows that irregular physical activities are associated with low level of physical fitness, degenerated health and lack of adequate social development in persons with ID.

There are so many health related and health improved physical exercises that persons with ID should be intentionally exposed to, such that can improve their health status, make them physically fit, improve their motor development and possibly increase their life span. There is need to check the sedentary and inactive life-style commonly found among person with ID in order to prevent so many other health related problems that are commonly associated with ID and that are often found among persons with ID. Heslop, Blair, Fleming, Hoghton, Marriot and Russ [4], averred that low physical activities and frequent sedentary behavior result in health-related problems and inequalities and reduced life expectancy that are commonly found among persons with ID. It therefore behooves that persons with ID should therefore be assisted as it may, to participate regularly in physical activities that can help them to be physically fit, reduced their sedentary lifestyle and embark on activities that can help them record an impressive progress in their social development.

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that result in energy expenditure. It refers to activities that involve all movement including leisure activities; movement to and for places, including transportation to places of work WHO, [5]. Physical activities are essential for development of daily living and functional skills, especially in persons with ID. Performing daily living skills effortlessly will become an easy task for persons with ID if they can plunge themselves into a consistent lifestyle of physical activities and exercises. However, it is quite unfortunate because contrary is the case as research has documented that most individuals with ID engage in insufficient physical activities [6] and [7]. It is worthy of note that physical activities promotes general body growth and development and also prevents or drastically reduce health related challenges among persons with ID if jettisoned.

There is an age long relationship between physical activities and physical fitness. There are enough evidence that physical activity is beneficial to children and youth with developmental disabilities, some of these benefits according to Connie and Johnson (2009) are aerobic capacity improvement, effective functionality of gross motor skills and constant participation with parental satisfaction. Authors have also reported the impact of physical activity and exercise on improvement of strength in persons with other related disabilities like Cerebral Palsy [8] and specifically among the ID folks Temple, Frey, and Stanish [9]. However, persons with ID lack the understanding of this and yet, those that should be readily available to assist them to constantly engage in healthy and fulfilling physical activity and exercise also lack awareness of this fact, as related to the general well-being of persons with ID. Against this background, this paper investigated physical activities as correlate of physical fitness, health and social development of persons with ID.

Regular physical activities improve mental health as it can drastically reduce the rate of depression, anxiety, mood swing and other related issues in mental health. For instance, Bauman, Reis, Sallis, Wells, Loos, and Martin, [10] maintained that regular physical activities can reduce the rate of chronic disease like coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, some cancers and reduce the risk of premature death. The effect of physical activities on social development of every individual cannot be underestimated. Several research have backed up the overall positive effect of physical activity and exercise on health and social development of every individual. For instance, NASPE, [11] reiterated that a well-packaged physical education program will afford every student the opportunity of an improved social and emotional development. Martin, [12] also maintained that physical activity is highly essential for quality of life and serves as public health promoter for every individual.

Some of the physical activities that have yielded positive outcomes are walking, jogging, cycling, sports and recreation activities [13]. They have helped to prevent non communicable diseases and brought about an improvement in health. Physical activity has series of metabolic advantages attached to it for the benefit of persons with ID and apart from these, the impact of physical activity on health, social development and general well-being cannot be overemphasized. Successful constant experiences of physical activity enhance self-perception, have an amplified importance for cognitive, and social emotional development, increase the sense of social participation, integration and gives room for making friends. It can also relieve stress, deal with age distress and bring about an improved general lifestyle. However, most persons with ID are not aware of the promising effect of physical activity and exercise on their health. It is pertinent to know that persons with ID are confronted with series of barriers or difficulties to engage in various physical activities and exercise that are of interest to them. Therefore, the advocacy should persist and professionals that always work with people with ID should be aware of this and necessary interventions provided.

Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and has as a final or an intermediate objective of the improvement or maintenance of physical fitness [14]. There are so many benefits attached to constant engagement in exercise and aerobics especially among persons with ID. Exercise had been found to reduce pain as it naturally reduces stress and also bring about reduction in depression (Latimer, Martin and Gini 2004). There is a positive outcome of exercise on healthy behaviors and social skills development of learner with ID. There are so many other physiological benefits that can be derived from regular exercise for instance, it brings about an increased muscle tone, bone mass and more importantly makes people physical fit and healthy.

Active participation in physical activity and exercise help in the development of various skills in learners with ID. Social development of learners with ID goes a long way to help them learn so many other skills that makes life easy for them and that would not have been easy for them to develop if not for appropriate social development. Persons with ID need their social personal relationship as a steppingstone to so many other greater heights in life. Physical fitness which is a product of active physical activity and exercise help people develop important skills such as conflict resolution, peaceful relationships with peers, making new friends, cooperation among friends, job searching skills and even boost leadership qualities. Cognitive and emotional skills are also positively impacted when constantly engaging in regular exercise.

Intellectual Disability involves problems with general mental abilities that is reflected in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors [15]. It affects about one percent of the general population with 85% of mild degree while the remaining 15% are spread among the remaining degrees of ID. Persons with ID are group of people that have condition of incomplete mental development which negatively affect them in all areas. This condition makes them to be less likely to engage in physical activity and left them less physically fit than their counterparts without ID. This condition should not be used as a yard stick to disqualify or rather prevent learners with ID from having access to rights and privileges accessible to others without any form of disability of which regular physical activity and exercise is one. Persons with ID can equally participate in various leisure and recreational activities in the community in as much as they can improve their physical, mental and social well-being. Leisure activities will offer them freedom of enjoyment, pleasure and sense of fulfillment. Guerra, (2003) averred that person with ID display low levels of work capacity and peak oxygen consumption. However, regular physical activity and exercise can bring about an improvement in this important aspect of their lives.

Statement of Problem

Persons with ID are well-known for their sedentary lifestyle and health challenges that surround their life system as a result of lack of physical activity and exercise. The benefits of regular exercise among persons with ID have been well researched, as it has positive effect upon their general health and well-being. However, research shows that hand pick different types of physical activity; aerobics and exercise with the view of improving the fitness, health, and social development of learners with ID at the same time are few. Physical fitness of persons with ID are prerequisite to positive outcomes in all other areas of their lives be it physical, emotional, social, psychological, and even their academics.

There is need to completely eradicate the problem of lack of regular physical activity and exercise among persons with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disability as it has caused serious havoc among these categories of individuals. The best way of working on sedentary lifestyle of persons with ID is to structure their programs, routine, IEP and everything revolving round their lives in such a way that they will be exposed to regular participation in physical activities and exercise. The home front, schools and the community at large should take it up as a matter of duty to assist persons with ID to constantly participate in physical activity and exercise such that will make them to be constantly fit, improve their health conditions and improve their social ineptness.

Research Questions

The following research questions were raised and tested in the study.

1) What is the relative contribution of physical activity and exercise on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability?

2) Will there be any significant difference in the physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability?

3) What is the relationship between the dependent variables (physical activity and exercise) and independent variables (physical fitness, health and social development)?

Methodology

The research design adopted for the conduct of this study was the descriptive research design of the expost-facto of correlation type. Ex-post factor type is a systematic empirical inquiry in which the researcher does not have a direct control on the independent variables because according to Kerlinger and Lee (2000), the manifestation or impact had already occurred on the subjects. For instance, the physical fitness, health and social development of persons with ID had been impacted as a result of their level of participation in physical activity and exercise. This implies that the researcher has no control on the variables under study and as a result cannot in any way manipulate them.

Instrumentation

A well Structure questionnaire r=0.73 designed by the researcher was used to elicit responses from the participants about their active participation in regular physical activities and exercise. The questionnaire is a four like rt scale structured to investigate the participation of the respondents in active physical activity and exercise. This was used to gather the needed information from the respondents. The validity and reliability index of the questionnaire was determined.

Population, Sample and Sampling Technique

The targeted population for this study were all persons with Intellectual Disability (ID) in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo state Nigeria. A total number of 54 persons with ID constituted the sample for this study. Fifty-four persons with ID were selected from four different public special schools for persons with ID. The multistage and stratified sampling techniques was used to select 54 primary 2-4 persons with ID in Ibadan, Oyo state. The data collected was analyzed with the use of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Regression Analysis.

Results

RQ1: What is the composite effect of physical activity on fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability?

Table 1 above showed there was a significant composite effect of physical activity on fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. This shows that physical activity correlated positively with the independent variables (physical fitness, health and social development) of persons with ID. The table also shows a coefficient of multiple correlations (R) of 0.668 and a multiple R square of 0.447. This means that 41.3% (Adj. R2=0.413) of the variance in the physical activity is accounted for by the independent variables, when taken together. The significance of joint contribution was tested at p<0.05 using the F- ratio at the degree of freedom (DF= 3/50). The table also showed that the analysis of variance for the regression yielded a F-ratio of 13.450 (significant at 0.05 level). The above present is significant at 0.05 levels.

RQ2: What is the relative contribution of physical activity on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability?

Table 2 reveals there a significant relative contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variable, expressed as beta weights. The relative coefficients of physical fitness, health and social development on physical activity of persons with intellectual disability. Using the standardized regression coefficient to determine the relative contributions of the independent variables. Physical fitness (β = 0.536, t= 3.742, p < 0.05) indicates most potent contributor to the prediction, follow by social development (β = 0.223, t= 2.339, p < 0.05) has a relative contribution to physical activity of persons with intellectual disability. while physical health (β = 0.049, t= .306, p > 0.05) has no relative contribution to physical activity of persons with intellectual disability. It implies that there was a relative contribution of physical activity and exercise on physical fitness and social development of persons with ID.

RQ3: What is the composite effect of physical activity and exercise on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability?

Table 3 showed there was a significant composite effect of physical activity and exercise on fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. That is physical activity and exercise correlated positively with the independent variables (physical fitness, health and social development) of persons with intellectual disability. The table also shows a coefficient of multiple correlations (R) of 0.752 and a multiple R square of 0.565. This means that 53.9% (Adj. R2=0.539) of the variance in the physical activity and exercise on academic performance is accounted for by the independent variables, when taken together. The significance of joint contribution was tested at p<0.05 using the F- ratio at the degree of freedom (DF=3/50). The table also showed that the analysis of variance for the regression yielded an F-ratio of 21.685 (significant at 0.05 level).

RQ4: What is the relative contribution of physical Exercise on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability?

Table 4 revealed that there was a significant relative contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variable, expressed as beta weights. The relative coefficients of physical fitness, health and social development on physical activity and exercise of persons with intellectual disability was established. Using the standardized regression coefficient to determine the relative contributions of the independent variables, Physical fitness (β = 0.544, t= 4.288, p < 0.05) indicates most potent contributor to the prediction, follow by physical health (β = 0.242, t= 2.705, p < 0.05) has a relative contribution to physical activity and exercise among persons with intellectual disability while social development (β = 0.045, t= .305, p > 0.05) has no relative contribution to physical activity and exercise among persons with intellectual disability. It implies that there was a relative contribution of physical activities and exercise on physical fitness and health of persons with intellectual disability.

Discussion of Findings

Based on the results of the analysis, the findings were discussed as follows:

A cursory check at the result of table 1 shows that physical activity and exercise correlated positively with the independent variables (physical fitness, health and social development) of persons with ID. This shows that physical activity and exercise positively impact and improve the physical fitness, health and social development of persons with ID. This is in consonant with the findings of Lin and Wuang [13], which maintained that physical activities and exercises like walking, jogging, cycling, sports and recreation activities have yielded positive outcomes on persons with ID. They have helped to prevent non communicable diseases and brought about an improvement in health. This result also corroborates Henderson and Merrick, (2006) who emphasized that physical, psychological and emotional benefits of participation in physical activity for people with disabilities have been widely documented.

Table 2 reveals the relative coefficients of physical fitness, health and social development on physical activity of persons with ID. This implied that there was a significant relative contribution of physical activity and exercise on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with ID. However, Physical fitness indicates most potent contributor to the prediction, follow by social development which has a relative contribution to physical activity of persons with intellectual disability while health has no relative contribution to physical activity and exercise among persons with intellectual disability. It implies that physical activity and exercise can drastically improve the physical fitness and social development of persons with ID. This is consistent with the assertion of Connie and Johnson (2009), that stated that there is an age long relationship between physical activities and physical fitness of persons with ID and that there are enough evidences that physical activity is beneficial to children and youth with developmental disabilities, with positive outcome in aerobic capacity improvement and effective functionality of gross motor skills. This finding is also in line with that of Duman, Bastug, Tasgin and Akandere [16], which submitted that physical activities, sports and exercise are considered as social activities that allow people to socialize more and get involved in activities in their neighborhood.

Table 3 also shows that there was a significant composite effect of physical activity and exercise on fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. That is physical activity and exercise correlated positively with the independent variables that is the physical fitness, health and social development of persons with intellectual disability. The table also shows a coefficient of multiple correlations of the variance in the physical activity and exercise on academic performance as it is accounted for by the independent variables, when taken together. This simply means that it can be inferred that physical activity and exercise can improve the physical fitness, health and the social competence of persons with ID if they constantly engage it. This finding conforms with Golubovic, Maksimovic, Golubovic, and Glumbic, [1] who maintained that a more elaborate physical activities may positively affect the physical fitness of persons with ID. Therefore, persons with ID should engage in physical activity and exercise in order to improve on their inactive and sedentary lifestyle.

Table 4 reveals that there was a significant relative contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variable. The relative coefficients of physical fitness, health and social development on physical activity and exercise of persons with intellectual disability was established. This finding is in tandem with the findings of Giovanni, Di Bartolomeo and Stefano Papa [17] which found that physical activity improves health and positively impact the way people interact. He reiterated that physical activity and a moderate level of fitness bring about an improvement in health couple with other benefits that is associated with it. He also maintained that those that are constantly exposed to physical activity are more likely to exhibit pro social behaviors.

Conclusion

This study had shown the importance of physical activity and exercise on physical fitness, health and social development of persons with ID. Most persons with ID fail to regularly engage and participate in physical activity and exercise; this has negatively impacted their health and rendered them physically unfit. The importance of the result had been revealed and its contribution to knowledge. The impact of physical activity and exercise as related to physical fitness, health and social development of learners with ID had been widely discussed its corrective ability and influence on sedentary life style and general well-being of persons with ID was well captured. Parents, caregivers and stakeholders should see it as a matter of duty to constantly encourage persons with ID to be intentional about participating in regular physical activity and exercise in order to drastically improve their fitness, health and social development.

Recommendation

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made.

i. The family and significant others should be involved in compulsory participation of persons with ID in regular physical activity and exercise in other to drastically reduce their sedentary lifestyle and improve their health and social well-being.

ii. Persons with ID should be allow to constantly participate in physical activity and exercise in schools and community at large, such that it becomes a regular habit, this with enable them to be physically fit, health wisely sound and socially efficient.

iii. Curriculum planners should include physical activity and exercise in the curriculum content of persons with ID.

There should a constant counseling and training for teachers and caregivers of persons with ID about the importance of regular physical activity and exercise as it relates to their fitness, health and social development.

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