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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Sport Psychology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1366694
This article is part of the Research Topic Adapted & (dis)Ability Sport View all 12 articles

Empowerment and social inclusion through Para sports: A qualitative study on women with physical impairments in Saudi Arabia

Provisionally accepted
Majed M. Alhumaid Majed M. Alhumaid 1*Yuhanis Adnan Yuhanis Adnan 2*Mohamed A. SAID Mohamed A. SAID 1Maryam A. Alobaid Maryam A. Alobaid 1Selina Khoo Selina Khoo 2
  • 1 Department of Physical Education, College of Education, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
  • 2 Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Participation in sports represents a potent means of empowerment and social inclusion. Nevertheless, women with physical impairments encounter specific challenges in accessing Para sports. The main aim of this study is to present the experiential participation and achievements in sports of women with physical impairments in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Twenty women athletes with physical impairments who engaged in competitive Para sports in Saudi Arabia were interviewed. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was employed to extract themes elucidating the experiences of women athletes with physical impairments in Para sports. Results: Four dimensions were identified: (i) Exploring participation in sports; (ii) The positive impact of participation in sports; (iii) obstacles in participation in sport; and (iv) hopes and aspirations to improve participation in Para sports. Conclusions: In Saudi Arabia, participation in Para sports functions as a powerful tool for empowering and socially integrating women with physical impairments. However, these women encounter challenges in accessing sports. Achieving empowerment in Para sports necessitates the establishment of an inclusive ecosystem that celebrates diversity and equality. Collaborative efforts from governments, sports organizations, communities, and individuals are indispensable in creating an environment where women with impairments can flourish in sports.

    Keywords: social inclusion, women Para-athletes, Disability, physical disability, Saudi women

    Received: 24 Jan 2024; Accepted: 18 Apr 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Alhumaid, Adnan, SAID, Alobaid and Khoo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Majed M. Alhumaid, Department of Physical Education, College of Education, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
    Yuhanis Adnan, Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.