VIDBE-Q 2025 Volume 70 Issue 4
participate in sport. In this exploratory study, the Motives for Physical Activities
Measure (MPAM-R) was administered prior to camp to collect quantitative data.
Pre- and post-camp questionnaires provided qualitative insights. In total, 34 youth
with visual impairments ages 6-17 from three different summer programs for
children with visual impairments participated in data collection. For questionnaire
items that elicited specific sports and activities as a response, researchers
determined relative frequencies of each response. For other questions, qualitative
data from questionnaires was coded for themes by question using a general
inductive approach until a point of saturation. Results from the MPAM-R
categorized motivation into four areas: interest/ enjoyment, competence, fitness, or
social. Significant differences were found between the transformed means for a)
interest/enjoyment versus fitness (t=4.90,p<.0001), b) interest/enjoyment versus
social (t=3.84,p=.0008), and c) competence versus fitness (t=2.68,p<.0376). This
indicates that the primary reason children in this study participate in physical
activity is interest/enjoyment, followed by competence. Qualitative data provided a
richer narrative regarding reasons for participation in fitness activities, current
physical activities, preferred activities, and who encouraged participation in
physical activities.
Key words: visual impairment, motivation, physical activity, sport
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