Report

Wheelchair tennis improves well-being of participants in developing countries

The purpose of this study was to investigate what impact playing wheelchair tennis had on people from developing countries.

Lead academic:
Professor Vicky Tolfrey
Additional academics:
Dr Anthony Papathomas
Funder:
The Peter Harrison Foundation

Within developing countries, individuals with a disability may experience considerable psychological and social hardship due to negative cultural depictions of disability.

This can result in individuals experiencing low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and feeling isolated and marginalized from society. Sport has been suggested as a tool which can be used to alleviate the psychosocial burden having a disability can bring, however few studies have investigated how participating in sport impacts people from developing countries.

Methods

  • 16 wheelchair tennis players from 6 different countries (Morocco, Iran, Romania, Turkey, South Africa and Yemen) were interviewed regarding their experiences playing wheelchair tennis.
  • Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim and subject to thematic analysis.

Main findings and applications

  • Participating in wheelchair tennis impacted participants in 3 key ways; developed transferable skills, perceived personal growth and the crafting of an athletic identity.
  • Skills learnt on the tennis court, such as increased self-confidence, resilience and physical function were transferred to everyday life, improving independence and quality of life.
  • Playing wheelchair tennis enabled participants to develop new skills, have different life experiences and forge friendships with people from other countries resulting in perceptions of personal growth.
  • Embodying an identity of an athlete enabled participants to challenge negative cultural perceptions both intrinsically and in wider society by minimising stigmatising disability narratives, and showing that they could fulfil the societal roles expected of them. 

Reference 

Richardson, E. V., Papathomas, A., Smith, B. and Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (2015). The psychosocial impact of wheelchair tennis on participants from developing countries. Disability and Rehabilitation. 5: 1-8. DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1073372