Barriers to the Absence of the Disabled and Veterans in Sports Activities Based on Data Theory

Exercise and physical activity play a vital role in the general health of society, especially veterans and the disabled. Throughout human history, coping with a disability has taken numerous forms and has been more humane and discriminatory. The presence of individuals with disabilities in sports activities plays a significant role in their lives. In Iran, numerous veterans and disabled are reluctant to participate in sports activities. The issue of veterans and the disabled not attempting to participate in sports is not a very new title; however, it has not been comprehensively reviewed. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for the lack of participation of the disabled and veterans in sports activities.

The present qualitative study was conducted using data–based theory by Strauss and Corbin (year to be written). Accordingly, the interviewees' views on the barriers to the presence of veterans and disabled groups in sports activities were identified. The study participants were 30 disabled and veteran subjects with a mean±SD age of 51.4±2.19 years who were purposively selected for in–depth and exploratory 45–60–minute interviews. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached (25 interviews). According to the qualitative research literature, the interviews were analyzed and coded concurrently. The units of analysis were reviewed several times and classified according to conceptual similarity and meaning. The declining trend in data reduction took place in all units of study and sub–main and main classes; the number of conceptual units became less.Furthermore, the sub–main and sub–classes became more abstract and conceptual. Thus, the data were divided into main factors, including general, conceptual, and abstract. Various methods were applied to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of the research, as follows: Reviewing observers, including manuscripts, analysis unit, and extracted themes using supplementary comments from experts and participants. Corrections were made, and suggestions were made. Notably, sharing opinions about similar codes and classes is crucial for data accuracy in content analysis. The continuous engagement was observed in simultaneous data analysis and feedback to research and allocating sufficient time.

The study participants included 7 women and 23 men (9 experts, 12 managers, 4 veterans & disabled, & 5 professors). The reluctance of veterans and disabled subjects to participate in sports activities with 6 main factors and 21 sub–factors in 6 dimensions of paradigm model, including causal factors (individual, social, economic, managerial, & psychological), pivotal phenomenon (veteran and disabled and sports activities, underlying factors (veterans & disabled, lacking education & research), interventional factors (defects to using a dysfunctional manager, legal gaps & structural barriers), facilitating factors (developing human resources & potential capacities of veterans & disabled), strategies, economic, individual strategies management, and psychology and outcomes (veterans & disabled, social growth & organizational success) and pivotal phenomenon (absence of veterans & the disabled in sports activities) were identified.

According to the obtained findings, the identification of managerial, social, economic, psychological, and personal factors and barriers can be used as a guiding and facilitating shortcut for the active participation and presence of veterans and the disabled in sports activities.