This study compared the effect of two sources of instruction and verbal
encouragement on the participation of individuals with mental retardation (MR) in a 10-week physical activity program. Participants were 17 adult employees of a sheltered
workshop (5 females, 12 males) ranging in age from 30 to 65 years. The program was
offered at work 3 days per week and involved aerobic dance activities. Group
engagement in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was
systematically observed and was compared using a reversal design. Condition A
involved an exercise leader plus an exercise video to deliver instructional cues and verbal
promotion of participation. Condition B used an exercise video as the only source of
instruction and verbal promotion. The exercise videos were designed specifically for the
participant group to address the low fitness levels and limited ability to make activity
transitions. Data indicated that, on average, a higher percentage of the group was
engaged in MVPA when the leader-plus-video condition (A) was applied. However, the
difference was not practically meaningful when the administrative ease and cost-effectiveness
of videos are considered. Further, a considerable overlap of data points in
the graphical analyses indicated that withdrawing the leader did not control exercise
behavior. Program attendance was variable but remained high over the course of the
study. Group engagement levels were higher during the sessions with fewer participants,
which suggested that a small group of highly compliant participants were more
consistently on-task. Work performance was not negatively impacted when employees
took time out of their workday to participate in physical activity. It is of importance that
several participants continued to participate in the exercise program over the 4-week
maintenance phase. This study provided a convenient, inexpensive method for adults
with MR to independently participate in physical activity. / Graduation date: 1999
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/33347 |
| Date | 22 September 1998 |
| Creators | Stanish, Heidi Isabel |
| Contributors | McCubbin, Jeffrey A. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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