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Objective <p>This study aimed to examine the predictors of physical and mental health in a large sample of young people with disabilities.</p> Methods <p>A total of 1,134 participants (mean age: 17.46 years; standard deviation: 3.71) completed the SF-12 questionnaire, which provides physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health scores. Participants were categorized based on their Paralympic participation (individual, team, or non-athlete), disability type, geographical region, and residential context. Multivariate linear regression models were used to identify independent predictors of PCS and MCS scores while controlling for relevant covariates.</p> Results <p>PCS scores were higher in participants of individual (46.5) and team (47.6) sports than in non-athletes (39.3; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with no significant differences between the athlete groups (<i>p</i> = 0.324). Similarly, MCS scores were higher in participants in both individual (48.9) and team (48.8) sports than in non-athletes (34.3; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with no significant differences between sport types (<i>p</i> = 0.999). The PCS model (R² = 0.172) identified the following positive predictors: residence in Northern or Southern Europe (<i>p</i> = 0.001 and <i>p</i> = 0.020, respectively); participation in sports activities (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001); living in rural areas (<i>p</i> = 0.016); and presence of an intellectual disability (<i>p</i> = 0.003). A negative predictive factor was the presence of a neurological disability (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The MCS model (R² = 0.348) identified southern European origin (<i>p</i> = 0.014), participation in sports activities (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and intellectual disability (<i>p</i> = 0.037) as positive predictors, while advanced age (<i>p</i> = 0.025) and acquired disability (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) were identified as negative predictors.</p> Conclusion <p>Paralympic sport was the strongest predictor of better physical and mental health, followed by geographical origin, age, disability type and residential setting.</p>

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Predictors of physical and mental health in youth with disabilities: the role of Paralympic sport participation

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

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  • Luca Puce,
  • Carlo Biz,
  • Piergiorgio Andrisano,
  • Pietro Ruggieri,
  • Piotr Zmijewski,
  • Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

摘要

Objective

This study aimed to examine the predictors of physical and mental health in a large sample of young people with disabilities.

Methods

A total of 1,134 participants (mean age: 17.46 years; standard deviation: 3.71) completed the SF-12 questionnaire, which provides physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health scores. Participants were categorized based on their Paralympic participation (individual, team, or non-athlete), disability type, geographical region, and residential context. Multivariate linear regression models were used to identify independent predictors of PCS and MCS scores while controlling for relevant covariates.

Results

PCS scores were higher in participants of individual (46.5) and team (47.6) sports than in non-athletes (39.3; p < 0.001), with no significant differences between the athlete groups (p = 0.324). Similarly, MCS scores were higher in participants in both individual (48.9) and team (48.8) sports than in non-athletes (34.3; p < 0.001), with no significant differences between sport types (p = 0.999). The PCS model (R² = 0.172) identified the following positive predictors: residence in Northern or Southern Europe (p = 0.001 and p = 0.020, respectively); participation in sports activities (p < 0.001); living in rural areas (p = 0.016); and presence of an intellectual disability (p = 0.003). A negative predictive factor was the presence of a neurological disability (p < 0.001). The MCS model (R² = 0.348) identified southern European origin (p = 0.014), participation in sports activities (p < 0.001) and intellectual disability (p = 0.037) as positive predictors, while advanced age (p = 0.025) and acquired disability (p < 0.001) were identified as negative predictors.

Conclusion

Paralympic sport was the strongest predictor of better physical and mental health, followed by geographical origin, age, disability type and residential setting.