Psychological Benefits of Inclusive Soccer Program in Young Adults with and without Intellectual Disabilities

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of the inclusive soccer program on psychological benefits in young adults with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). In the current study, sport motivation, measured as the relative autonomy index, visuo-spatial working memory and selective attention aspects of executive function, measured as the computerized Corsi Block Tapping Test and Eriksen Flanker Test were assessed. Ten participants with ID and ten typical partners practiced soccer activities together for 50-min each session, twice a week for fifteen-week long. The whole practice sessions were monitored at moderate exercise intensity. Measures were tested at pre- and post- program. Our results indicated that the typical partners improved the performance in Corsi Block Tapping Test because partners needed to search and select participants with ID and targets simultaneously in a spatial field. The increased relative autonomy index was noted in participants with ID. They also improved response accuracy in Eriksen Flanker Test because they were requested to evaluate, analyze, and take the appropriate actions at all times during practice. Thus, the demanding of inclusive soccer activities might promote sport motivation in participants with ID and lead to different cognitive benefits in participants with ID and their partners respectively. Future research is needed to examine with a larger sample size. In addition, more cognitive and physiological measures should be applied to explore the underlying mechanisms among individuals with ID.