The athletic work force: Sport as a key to employment for people with intellectual disabilities?
John Selander, Erika Wall
PMID 37393467WHAT IT FOUND
Surveyed Swedish athletes with intellectual disability reported work: 34 men full-time and 26 part-time; 4 women full-time and 14 part-time.
Interviews suggested sport helped through contacts and strength, but sport's role was not proven.
Key findings
01The survey reported employment status for Swedish athletes with intellectual disability: among men, 20 were not in work, 26 had part-time work and 34 had full-time work; among women, 23 were not in work, 14 worked part-time and 4 worked full-time.
02In interviews, all seven respondents combined sport and wage labour, and they described the sport community as socially central, with fellow athletes like a second family.
03Two of the seven interviewed athletes said private contacts in sport were a crucial facilitator in finding a job.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study describes athletes at one Special Olympics event, so it does not show what happens for people with intellectual disability who are not in organized sport. The survey had no comparison group, so it cannot show that sport caused higher employment rates. Leaders answered the survey, not the athletes, and the authors had no method to ensure the information was truthful. Only seven athletes were interviewed, so the findings are subjective experiences and cannot be generalised. The sample was linked to one games and the authors say participants differ from people with intellectual disability in general.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that sport participation causes higher employment in people with intellectual disability. This was a descriptive survey and small interview study of athletes at one event, with no comparison group, so it cannot separate sport from selection or other supports.