Investigating Leisure-Time Patterns of Individuals with Physical Disabilities: A Case Study of Individuals with Physical Disabilities in the City of Kashan

The study of how individuals with disabilities spend their leisure time in order to identify their limitations and weaknesses based on their viewpoints is an essential element in planning. The results will be effective in improving the services and investment with the goal of improving, at least, part of their leisure time quality. The purpose of this study is to identify how individuals with physical disabilities in Kashan spend their leisure time. The research tool for this applied study is a questionnaire with 66 items which was developed after the study of the background and theoretical foundations of the research with an approach to empowering individuals with physical disabilities in managing their leisure time. The tool was validated with the help of experts in the field and its reliability was caluculated using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient to be 0.776. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using AMOS and SPSS softwares. Findings indicate that home-activities with a factor load of 0.93 had a greater role in the leisure time of individuals with physical disabilities. Socializing with friends with a factor load of 0.77 ranked in second followed by computer activities, mass media, and the family. The results of the study on the problems of individuals with physical disabilities in spending their leisure time indicate that low safety of sports equipment and lack of proper equipment for exercise with a factor load of 0.90 are the main barriers to performing leisure time activities. Other important obstacles are a lack of leisure facilities such as benches and sports facilities, lack of standard footpaths, adequate floor coverings and parking spaces with regression weights of 0.88, 0.82, 0.81, 0.77 and 0.57, respectively. In order to improve the leisure-time patterns of individuals with physical disabilities community-based rehabilitation programs are required. In this regard, planning for and empowerment of individuals with physical disabilities can be more effective with six rehabilitational activities including family education, community education, individuals with physical disabilities referring to higher levels of support and guidance, providing rehabilitation aids, employment, and social support for individuals with physical disabilities.