The relationship between physical activity levels and family quality of life in individuals with special needs

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the physical activity level and family quality of life of individuals with special needs. In addition, the study aims to investigate the physical activity levels and family quality of life of individuals with special needs in terms of gender, age, education level, type of special need, regular sports participation, and perceived income level. The study was designed using correlational and descriptive survey models from quantitative research methods. 202 individuals with special needs residing in Bayburt province and belonging to different disability groups participated in the study. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, a Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 statistical package program. In the data analysis process, the normality of the data distribution was first tested.In the normality analysis, the results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the skewness and kurtosis values were considered. Since the data did not conform to a normal distribution, non-parametric tests were used in the analysis of the data. The relationship between the scores obtained by individuals with special needs from the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire and the scores obtained from the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale was examined using the Spearman Brown Rank Difference Correlation Coefficient. To examine the scores obtained by individuals with special needs from the data collection instruments in terms of gender, age, education level, type of special need, regular sports participation status, and perceived income level variables, the Mann Whitney-U, Kruskal Wallis-H tests, and the Spearman Brown Rank Difference Correlation Coefficient were used. To determine which groups showed a significant difference based on the Kruskal-Wallis H test results, the Mann-Whitney U test was applied to pairwise groups. According to the findings, it was determined that the physical activity levels (X: 9.31; 13 and below "Not active enough") and family quality of life levels (X: 56.25) of the individuals with special needs participating in the study were low. However, a moderate and positive significant relationship was found between the physical activity level and family quality of life levels of individuals with special needs (r: 0.548, p: 0.000). In terms of variables, it was observed that the physical activity levels and family quality of life levels of individuals with special needs showed significant differences according to their regular participation in sports and their special needs group. In contrast, no significant difference or relationship was determined between the physical activity levels and family quality of life levels of individuals with special needs in terms of gender, age, and perceived income level. It was found that individuals with special needs who regularly participate in sports have higher levels of physical activity (U: 2842.50, p<0.05) and family quality of life (U: 3017.50, p<0.05) compared to individuals with special needs who do not regularly participate in sports. Furthermore, it was determined that individuals with special needs who have physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder have lower levels of physical activity (X2: 49.488, p<0.05) and family quality of life (X2: 37.287, p<0.05) compared to individuals with speech and language disorders, specific learning disabilities, and Down syndrome. Keywords: Individuals with special needs, physical activity, family ouality of life.