The aim of this study is to know if park golf program is a proper activity to contribute to improvement of mental and physical disabilities’ health and encouragement of their participation in sports activities. They got tested and answered question...
The aim of this study is to know if park golf program is a proper activity to contribute to improvement of mental and physical disabilities’ health and encouragement of their participation in sports activities. They got tested and answered questions after two groups of people participated the program and we analyzed how it affected them on their health fitness, social relationship and physical self-confidence.
To carry out this study, we applied The Prudential FITNESSGRAM Test Administration Manual(1993), Relationship Change Scale and physical self-efficacy scale to know the changes of health, social relationship and physical self-confidence, respectively. The subjects are 10 of mental disabilities and physical disabilities. They participated in park golf program for 12 weeks, 2 times a week. The program lasted 2 hours each time. The result is presented below.
1) Out of 4 components of health fitness - body composition, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility and muscular strength - Park golf program did not make any difference in body composition and muscular endurance. There were significant differences in muscular endurance(p<.01) and flexibility(p<.05) for physical disabilities and mental disabilities, respectively. In both groups, however, there were significant differences in 4 components of health fitness(p<.05).
2) There were no significant differences in 4 components of health fitness depending on types of disabilities(physical and mental).
3) In social relationships, the program affected mental disabilities positively (p<.05), and when we considered it in both groups, it improved(p<.01). In communication, sensitivity, trust, affection and understanding-out of 7 components of social relationship, there was no difference for both subjects but, in satisfaction there was a difference(p<.05) for physical disabilities. In openness, mental disabilities made a difference(p<.05). In both groups, there was a significant difference in trust, openness, understanding(p<.05).
4) In the aspect of self-confidence, there was no difference for both subjects, respectively. In both groups, however, there was a significant difference in self-confidence(p<.05). In summing up all data, the effectiveness of the program is proved for physical disabilities and mentally disabilities in health fitness, social relationship and physical self-confidence. In conclusion, this program is good for handicapped people to improve health fitness, social relationship, physical self-confidence and this results lead them to reach a better life and get more chances to be socially included.
If the park golf program in this study is qualitatively examined and politically studied to encourage disabilities participation in sports, it will contribute to the expansion of park golf and the variety of extra-activities of handicapped people.