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Special Olympics swimming: positive effects on young people with Down syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose

The positive effects of sport and physical activity on health and well-being are worldwide recognized, while people with intellectual disabilities are often physically inactive. The aim of this study was to examine the perception of well-being, social integration, and emotional problems of Down syndrome (DS) subjects, who participated in Special Olympic (SO) training and competitions, and to investigate whether parents and their Down children have the same opinion on the problems caused by DS.

Methods

Ninety-three participants with DS were recruited for this study: 58 swimmers (aged 16.31 ± 1.55), 35 DS sedentary subjects (aged 16.06 ± 1.39), and their parents (n = 93). Two versions of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) were individually administered: the Self-reported version (SDQ-SR), completed by the DS participants, and the Parental version (SDQ-P), completed by their parents.

Results

Results showed significant differences between sportive vs. non-sportive groups in the overall domain scores (p < 0.01), with better results for the sportive group. Parents of DS non-sportive participants underestimated their children problems in 6 of the 8 domains (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Participation in SO competition can be recommended to improve general well-being perception and social skills in young individuals with DS.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Italian Paralympic Committee, Special Olympic Organization, and all the participants. The study was conducted without any external founding or financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Via F. De Sanctis 1, 86100, Campobasso, Italy

    Giovanni Fiorilli, Enzo Iuliano, Giovanna Aquino, Giuseppina Calcagnile & Giuseppe Calcagno

  2. Department of Motor Human and Health Sciences, Italian University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15, 00197, Rome, Italy

    Alessandra di Cagno

Authors
  1. Giovanni Fiorilli
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  2. Alessandra di Cagno
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  3. Enzo Iuliano
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  4. Giovanna Aquino
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  5. Giuseppina Calcagnile
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  6. Giuseppe Calcagno
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Fiorilli.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was designed in conformity with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the local Ethical Committee.

Informed consent

All participants volunteered the study, and as under ages subjects, their parents or their legal guardians gave written informed consent.

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Fiorilli, G., di Cagno, A., Iuliano, E. et al. Special Olympics swimming: positive effects on young people with Down syndrome. Sport Sci Health 12, 339–346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0293-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0293-x

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