Examining the Relationship Between Challenges to Sports Participation, Emotion Regulation and Psychological Resilience in Individuals with Disabilities

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationships between participation barriers in sports, psychological resilience, and emotion regulation levels among individuals with disabil-ities. While sports participation offers multifaceted benefits for individuals with disa-bilities such as enhancing physical health, fostering social interaction, and promoting psychological well-being these individuals often encounter various personal, environ-mental, and social obstacles in the process. The research was conducted in three provinces of Turkey (Siirt, Batman, and Diyarbakır), utilizing data collected from individuals with disabilities attending rehabilitation centers and special education institutions. The findings indicate that the challenges faced in accessing sports activities are not limited to physical accessibility, but are also closely related to psychological resilience and the ability to regulate emotions. In this context, coping skills, motivation, and emotional regulation capacities emerge as significant determinants of sports participation. The results underscore the necessity of integrating psychosocial support alongside physical adaptations to enhance access to sports for individuals with disabilities. Developing intervention programs aimed at strengthening psychological resilience and emotion regulation skills is suggested as a crucial step toward fostering inclusive sports partici-pation.