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Attitudes toward students with disabilities play a crucial role in creating an inclusive and supportive campus environment. This study investigated college students' attitudes toward peers with disabilities and explored the factors that influence these attitudes. Data from 457 students were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that students' attitudes toward peers with disabilities were moderately positive overall, with room for improvement. Specifically, the findings highlighted several key factors that positively influenced attitudes including presence of a family member or friend with a disability and students' involvement in disability-related programming. However, the study also identified areas that require attention including limited exposure to disability-related coursework among students, and low involvement in disability-related programming on campus. Implications highlight the significance of creating a supportive and inclusive campus climate for students with disabilities. Recommendations include various academic focused strategies, but focus on one social opportunity, namely intercollegiate adaptive sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to: (1) test and explain the type of experience scuba diving is among people with physical impairments based on the experience-type framework; (2) assess and describe their personality based on the Big Five domains; and (3) identify if personality, years diving, and diving level predict experience-type. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed. The quantitative phase used a cross-sectional survey (n = 103). The qualitative phase used follow-up interviews with 15 participants divided into 3 case study groups. Joint displays with meta-inferences integrated the data. Results: Quantitative and qualitative findings concurred on scuba being a transformative experience. 82.52% of survey participants reported scuba as a transformative experience, with no significant differences on experience impact based on impairment category (p = 0.56), impairment onset (p = 0.66), gender (p = 0.08), race/ethnicity (p = 0.51), or age (p = 0.07). Big Five personality domains, years diving, or diving level did not predict experience impact (R2 = 0.14, F(12,90) = 1.304, p = 0.2305). Data strand results differed on salient personality domains. Seven qualitative themes emerged, five on experience-type and two on personality. Conclusions: We recommend the exploration of scuba diving as a prospective rehabilitation intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Innovative rehabilitation interventions that provide positive experiences and long-term health benefits to people with physical impairments are needed. Participants reported that scuba diving had a positive transformative impact in their lives through positive emotions, peace/relaxation, personal growth, development of skills, social connections, physical and mental healing, and lasting behavioral changes. Reporting scuba diving as a transformative experience was not influenced by the scuba divers' personality domains, diving level, demographic characteristics, or the number of years they had been diving. Authors recommend the consideration and further exploration of scuba diving as a prospective physical and psychosocial rehabilitation intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults' wellbeing during the transition into an assisted living facility (ALF) is not well understood and may influence their wellbeing. The Mueller Assessment of Transition (MAT) was created to measure the impact of transition on older adults' wellbeing. Early developmental testing of the MAT revealed a hypothesized model with two constructs (adjustment strategies and constraints to wellbeing). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to confirm the factor structure of the MAT with a representative sample of older adults transitioning into ALFs. In a nationwide sample, 108 older adult participants completed the MAT to measure wellbeing when relocating into ALFs. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the structural validity of the MAT. Internal consistency was evaluated, and chi-square tests of association for regional differences in MAT scores were also conducted. The CFA produced strong fit indices to confirm the hypothesized 2-factor (constraints to wellbeing and adjustment strategies) model of the MAT. Cronbach's alpha for the internal consistency was 0.784 and chi-square test indicated no significant regional differences. The MAT was established as a valid and reliable standardized assessment. Implications for using the MAT as a tool to measure older adults' wellbeing and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female veterans are the fastest growing military group, yet they are largely underrepresented in research (Hawkins & Crowe, 2018a, 2018b; Lundberg et al., 2016). There is a gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of female veterans. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand female veterans' experiences while participating in Higher Ground's military program (HGMP), utilizing semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis yielded four themes: 1) transformative experiences, 2) empathetic staff, 3) staff connection to the military, and 4) resources after HGMP. The study's findings highlight the need for trauma-informed care, cultural competency training for practitioners working in programs that serve female veterans, and offering continued resources after the conclusion of a program. Findings also indicate that participants had transformative experiences during the program. Further research is needed to examine programming elements in other outdoor recreational therapy programs to determine their effectiveness as therapeutic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitions into an assisted living facility (ALF) may have major impacts on the well-being of older adults, both positively and negatively. The purpose of this study was to explore strategies that older adults are implementing to maintain or improve their well-being during their transition into an ALF. A grounded theory, descriptive approach employed 14 individual, in-person interviews at an ALF in the rural, southeastern U.S. Eight central findings emerged as adjustment strategies used by older adults, catorgizied as active and passive strategies. The five active strategies were identified as importance of health promoting activities (subthemes: promoting physical health and promoting mental health), connections to the outside world (subthemes: community integration outings and community visitors), placing possessions, finding a new routine, and engaging in spiritual practices. Three passive strategies were identified: peer support, staff support, and prior familiarity with the ALF. Implications for recreational therapists working with older adults in ALFs are detailed and future research recommendations are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga is used in health care with a variety of populations, but limited knowledge exists regarding the details of how yoga is implemented in recreational therapy (RT) practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how yoga is implemented in RT practice. As part of a nation-wide survey and through the use of individual interviews, this secondary analysis investigated how yoga is being used in RT practice across the United States. Sixteen recreational therapists completed both a nation-wide online survey and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative results describe the populations in which yoga is being used in RT practice, as well as the characteristics of recreational therapists who also are employing yoga in their RT practice. Then, conventional and summative content analysis identified four categories related to yoga in RT practice: recreational therapists' practices, treatment planning, outcomes, and yoga intervention. The findings revealed that yoga is implemented with a variety of populations as part of RT practice. Yoga should be implemented by recreational therapists who are trained to teach yoga or provide population-specific yoga sessions to meet specific patient needs. Limitations of the study and implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All people, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) deserve to actively participate in the community in which they live. For transition aged-youth (TAY) with IDD, attaining successful community participation can be difficult. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the literature specific to recreational therapy interventions in the U.S. aimed at improving community participation among TAY with IDD. Literature specific to two domains of community participation were explored: a) interpersonal life; and b) community, civic and social life. Eight studies were reviewed using a thematic synthesis approach to identify common themes across studies. Findings revealed three themes: 1) programs with collaboration and community supports, 2) leisure education, and 3) social skills training. Facilitators, barriers, and promising approaches regarding community participation of TAY with IDD are described. Implications and limitations of the current literature are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at a greater risk for experiencing stress, particularly stress associated with negative interpersonal relations, in comparison to individuals without disabilities. The purpose of this study was to: (a) explore whether participation in yoga served as a coping strategy for adults with IDD; and (b) determine the feasibility of researching stress and yoga as coping among individuals with IDD. Using a multi-method research design, participants completed a quantitative assessment before and after the seven-and-a-half week yoga intervention, and a semi-structured interview post-intervention. Qualitative findings suggest that yoga can serve as an emotionfocused coping strategy for adults with IDD, as it may increase participants' mood and enhance their perceived social support. Future research should evaluate yoga as a form of coping for adults with IDD, and identify best practices for conducting stress and coping-related research with adults with IDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive sports participation has been found to benefit participants physically, emotionally, cognitively, and psychologically. These sports may also serve as a vehicle to combat society's negative attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. To further explore this possibility, the purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of an international adaptive sport training on Thai college student and professor attitudes toward individuals with physical disabilities. Twenty-one participants completed the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS). A series of one-way RM ANOVAs and descriptive statistics were utilized to compare participant scores across time. Findings indicated that there were no significant changes in attitudes as measured by the MAS. Measurement and program design issues are considered. More work is needed to develop an appropriate tool to evaluate changing attitudes. Implications for research and recreational therapy practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this multi-method pilot study was to explore the efficacy of a yoga intervention on the leisure constraints and functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults. Seven community-dwelling older adults engaged in 16, 60-minute sessions of hatha yoga conducted twice a week for eight weeks at a local continuing education center. Individuals enrolled in either a seated yoga class (n=4) or a standing yoga class (n=3). Pre-/ post-measures included physical measures and a survey of leisure constraints. A focus group was conducted with each group to determine their perspectives of participation. Results indicated significant improvement in lower-body strength and endurance. Balance, upper and lower body flexibility, upper-body strength, and self-reported leisure constraints did not show significant improvements. Qualitative data showed that participants perceived psychosocial and physical benefits to yoga participation including increased energy and motivation to engage in other types of physical activities. Findings indicate the potential for the use of yoga to increase participation in other forms of leisure-time physical activity, but further evaluation of the influence of yoga on leisure constraints is warranted. Implications for recreational therapists are discussed, including helping clients identify community yoga classes that will best meet their needs based on class size, accessibility, and pace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of service members have sustained injuries during their service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn resulting in varying disabilities. Many community-based adapted sports programs, including therapeutic recreation programs, provide recreation and sport opportunities for injured service members. However, there is paucity of literature documenting effects of community-based adaptive sport on injured service member participants. Previous literature on adapted recreation, sport, and physical activity programs have focused on civilian populations who have sustained traumatic injury and who are enrolled in rehabilitation programs. Using a phenomenological lens to guide the research, findings indicated themes that align with self-determination theory and social comparison theory. Implications for therapeutic recreation services including suggestions for development of sports camps for injured service members are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitions into an assisted living home (ALH) are difficult and may impact the well-being of older adults. A thematic analysis guided by grounded theory was employed to better understand how a transition into an ALH influenced older adults' overall well-being. Individual, face-to-face interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 14 participants at an ALH in the rural, southeastern U.S. Two central findings that influenced well-being during the transition process were revealed: loss of independence (sub-themes include loss of physical and mental health and loss of driving) and downsizing in space and possessions. The themes support and broaden the Hierarchical Leisure Constraints Theory, a Modified Constraints to Wellbeing model is proposed, and implications for older adult health care practitioners in ALHs are recommended. Further research is needed on the Modified Constraints to Wellbeing model and how to better describe these constraints to older adults' well-being when relocating into ALHs.

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to provide insight on the use of yoga in occupational therapy (OT) for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This study aimed to answer how and why OT practitioners (OTPs) integrate yoga into clinical practice for PwMS. Eight OTPs, half of whom have also completed yoga teacher training, participated in a semi-structured telephone interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, inductively open-coded, and analyzed using thematic data analysis. Themes that emerged were: (a) OT and yoga are a natural fit; (b) improved performance and participation; (c) leveraging personal ties to yoga; and (d) influenced by client factors and clinical environment. The qualitative data provide valuable information about OTPs' justification for, and unique application of, yoga in clinical practice for PwMS. Future researchers should further explore the use of yoga for OT-related outcomes and the experience of PwMS.

Background: Yoga is an effective intervention to improve functional fitness in adults with and without disabilities, but little research exists regarding yoga's impact on functional fitness for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs)., Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits of a group yoga intervention on the functional fitness of adults with IDDs., Methods and Materials: This yoga intervention included 12 sessions of yoga over 7 weeks (60-min sessions twice a week) at a special population recreation and leisure program. The functional fitness test was used to examine physical functioning before and after the yoga intervention., Results and Conclusions: Eight adults completed the baseline and posttest measures (age mean = 31; standard deviation = 6.55; 50% male). There were significant improvements in lower-body strength (9.00 ± 4.63 vs. 11.50 ± 3.16, P = 0.04, 28% improvement), upper-body strength (11.25 ± 3.54 vs. 14.25 ± 3.37, P = 0.018, 27% improvement), and agility and balance (9.29 ± 4.1 vs. 6.60 ± 1.54, P = 0.036, 29% improvement). Functional fitness often declines for people with IDD at a faster rate than the general population; thus, these significant changes indicate that a yoga intervention may enhance functional fitness for people with IDD. Clinicians or other healthcare providers might consider yoga as a means to improve functional fitness in adults with IDDs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 International Journal of Yoga.)