Table 1.
Summary of included articles’ methodological quality, participant and program characteristics, and key findings (outcomes), organized by methodology.
| Study Authors, Country, Design, Theory (if applicable) | Quality Rating |
Sample Size (N, Female) |
Age - Years (Range and Mean [M]) |
Disability | Program Details | Data Collection Tool(s) | Key Findings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative | Hutchison et al.2008 Canada Case Study (Social Justice Philosophy) |
88.1 (high) | 3 (1 female) |
6–15 M = 10 |
Developmental Disability | Camp Crystal Sands (Project Rainbow)—Traditional Overnight Summer Camp Experience Canoeing, hiking, archery, campfire, arts, crafts, ropes, basketball, volleyball, and swimming 8-week camp (1 week with study) 1 inclusion counselor, 2 general counselors/cabin of 10 attendees; adapted equipment |
Participant Observation, Document Analysis, Interviews with Staff | (+) partnership to develop inclusion (+) full participation, in all activities (+) structured camp team to support (−) need more socialization opportunities |
| McConkey et al.2013 Europe (Germany, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, & Ukraine) Interviews |
76.2 (moderate) | 156 athletes 106 partners 65 coaches Males > Females (not specified) |
12–25 years (M not specified) |
Intellectual Disability | Unified Sport (Special Olympics)—7-a-side football and basketball No further program details provided |
Athlete information provided by coaches, semi-structured interview guide | (+) all youth: stamina, technical skills, status in school and community, self-belief, self-esteem, confidence, communication skills, involvement external to sport, friendships with teammates (+) equality and respect fostering relationships (+) ND youth: attitudes and social relationships with D (+) program-community alliances fostering recruitment |
|
| Sutherland and Stroot 2009* USA Ethnography (Social Cognitive Theory) |
81.0 (high) | 7 (3 female) |
10–14 years (M not specified) |
High functioning autism spectrum disorder | Smith Rock trip (No Limits) 3 full days Rock climbing trip: climbing, campfire, teambuilding activities Unspecified trip leaders |
Semi-structured interviews, observation checklist (5-point Likert scale) | (+) D social interaction with ND youth: communicating with others & social acceptance (+) D defined role in group as helper—valued team member |
|
| Sutherland and Stroot 2010* USA Ethnography (Grounded Theory) |
76.2 (moderate) | 7 (3 female) |
10–14 years (M not specified) |
High functioning autism spectrum disorder | Smith Rock trip (No Limits) 3 full days Rock climbing trip: climbing, campfire, teambuilding activities Unspecified trip leaders |
Semi-structured interviews, observation checklist (5-point Likert scale) | (−) First contact due to existing group dynamics of ND youth (+) Opinion of one ND youth can change others’ opinions of D (+) Teambuilding activities fostered social acceptance |
|
| Quantitative | Baran et al.2009 Turkey Pre-Post Test |
52.4 (low) | 46 (0 female) |
12–15 M = 14 years |
Mild Intellectual Disabilities based on Leither and WISC-R Intelligence tests | Unified Sport (Special Olympics)—Soccer 8 weeks, 3×/week, 90 minutes/session Coaches: certified for working with intellectual disabilities and soccer; 2 coaches per group of 4 youth with a head coach (total of 9 coaches) |
Special Olympics Unified Sports Questionnaire for (a) Parents, Teachers, and Coaches; (b) Athletes, Partner, Family Member, and Coach | (−) D only interacted with ND youth in program; getting along with others (−) ND youth did not learn about disability (−) ND youth enjoyment (+) parental report D and ND youth had better well-being 72.5% D attrition 37.5% ND youth attrition 50% ND youth domination 37.5% reported trouble matching age |
| Baran et al.2013 Turkey Randomized Comparative Intervention |
66.7 (moderate) | 98 (0 female) |
12–15 M = 14.5 years |
Mild Intellectual Disabilities based on an IQ < 50 | Unified Sport (Special Olympics)—soccer 8 weeks, 3×/week, 90 minutes/session Coaches: certified for working with intellectual disabilities and soccer; 2 coaches per group of 4 youth with a head coach (total of 9 coaches) Transportation provided to all participants; information session for parents and youth |
Brockport Physical Fitness Test Football Athletes Skills Assessment |
(−) ND youth flexibility & shooting compared to D (+) D: hand grip, standing long jump and flexed & hang (+) D slalom compared to ND youth (−) Pass, dribble & shoot, & total score ND youth in control compared to all other groups |
|
| Castagno 2001 USA Pre-Post Test |
66.7 (moderate) | 58 (1 female) |
11–14 M = 13 years |
Mental Retardation Mean IQ = 67 |
Unified Sport (Special Olympics)—Basketball 8 weeks, 3×/week, 90 minutes/session Coach: one with no assistants; 4 teams of 12–19 players each; followed the Unified Sports Guidebook for lesson plans; intramural tournament at end |
Katz-Zigler Self-Esteem Inventory; Basketball Sport Skill Assessment; Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test; Adjective Checklist; The Friendship Activity Scale; Unified Sports Questionnaire | (+) D: self-esteem, basketball skills, positive adjectives, friendship (effect sizes: .43–1.14) (+) ND youth: self-esteem, basketball skills, friendship, attitudes towards D, positive adjectives (effect sizes: .22–.80) (+, coach reported) all youth: sport interest, adherence to Unified Sports, interest in new sports, interest in new friends, self-esteem, self-confidence, happiness (+, coach reported) most (70–83%) ND youth: self-reliance, tolerance of others, desire to connect with the community, school motivation (NC, coach reported) all youth conflict with peers and family |
|
| Ninot and Maïano 2007 France Randomized Controlled Trial |
59.5 (low) | 48 (48 female) |
13–17 M = 15 years |
Mild-moderate intellectual disability of non-organic origin (40–78 on Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) |
Competitive swimming and basketball 21 months, 2 hours/week, 12 competitions 4 teams with trained coaches: basketball segregated, swimming segregated, basketball inclusive, swimming inclusive 2 control groups: physical education & sedentary |
Harter’s SPP (perceived competence): scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, conduct General self-worth |
(−) General self-worth: Basketball inclusion group less than physical education control (−) Perceived athletic competence: Basketball inclusion less than swimming and basketball segregated groups (NC) Social acceptance |
|
| Özer et al.2012 Turkey RCT |
71.4 (moderate) |
76 (0 female) |
12–15 | Intellectual Disability | Unified Sport Soccer vs. traditional soccer (segregated teams) 8 weeks, 3×/week, 90 minutes/session Coaches had "necessary experience and qualifications both for teaching children with ID and for coaching the sport of soccer." (p. 232) |
Child Behavior Checklist, Friendship Activity scale, Adjective Checklist | (+) competence for D youth (+) parents’ perceptions of D youth for internalizing and externalizing behaviors (+/−) control group baseline higher positive associations that decreased post-program (+) control group child behavior ND youth (−) ND youth adjective and friendship association with D youth in control group (+) ND youth in intervention adjective association with D youth |
|
| Stanish and Temple 2012 USA Pre-Post Test |
69.0 (moderate) | 34 (19 female) |
15–21 M = 17.8 years (D) M = 16.4 years (ND) |
Intellectual Disability IQ <75 |
Team Up for Fitness (YMCA) 15 weeks, 2×/week, 60 minutes/session Certified fitness trainers created individualized exercise plan, ND peer acted as the ‘workout buddy’ Training session for ND peer partners |
Attendance, Exercise engagement (tracking all physical activity, exercise records for the sessions), Brockport Physical Fitness Test, 6-Minute Walk Test, Body Mass Index | (+) 89.5% & 88.3% attendance for D and ND youth, respectively (+) Exercise engagement: Aerobic (84%), Stretching (89.5%), Strength (44.4%) (+) all youth fitness: curl-ups, 6-minute walk test, body mass index |
D: disability; IQ: intelligence quotient; M: mean; NC: no change; ND: no disability; YMCA: Young Men’s Christian Association; *indicates one data set across multiple articles.