141st APHA Annual Meeting

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An examination of the barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity for high school students with disabilities within urban and rural communities

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Vijay Vasudevan, MPH , Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Jeni Pierce, MS , Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Yochai Eisenberg, MUPP , Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
The importance and benefits of healthy and eating and physical activity are widely known. However, students with disabilities experience many unique barriers and facilitators that influence their health behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine the barriers and facilitators that influence healthy eating and physical activity for students with disabilities.

Four semi-structured focus groups (FG) were conducted in urban and rural communities across four states. FG participants included both students with disabilities (physical, sensory, cognitive, and intellectual/developmental disabilities) and staff who work with students with disabilities (teachers, aides, nurses, and care workers). The FGs discussed community mobility, school built environment, staff, programs, equipment, and policies that influence physical activity and healthy eating. Transcripts were coded verbatim. Analysis utilized grounded theory to identify themes and codes.

Major themes identified by students and staff related to physical activity and healthy eating included time allotted for physical activity and healthy eating, school design, rewards/punishments, and staff attitudes. School responsibilities (e.g., studying) greatly limited the time availability for students with disabilities to eat a healthy lunch and engage in physical activity. School policies designed to encourage positive scholastic achievement, did not account for disability status and subsequently had negative repercussions on physical activity and healthy eating. Staff attitudes towards a student's disability greatly influenced physical activity and healthy eating participation.

Future research should focus on methods for addressing the barriers and promoting facilitators identified in this study to in order to positively impact physical activity and healthy eating among students with disabilities.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the barriers and facilitators to physical activity and healthy eating for students with disabilities. Describe how the barriers and facilitators influence physical activity and healthy eating

Keywords: Physical Activity, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified because I am a PhD student in disability studies and was a graduate assistant on this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.