Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a multi-component exercise program on Physical Activity (PA), aerobic fitness, self-efficacy and social support of adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) living in Group Homes (GHs). Participants were fifty-nine adults with ID from two GHs. A GH was assigned to be either the Experimental Group (EG) or Wait-List Control Group (WLG). Participants of the EG received group exercise 3 days per week for 10 weeks and 3 educational talks. Participants of the WLG received intervention in the 11th week. Study outcomes included baseline, postintervention and 10-week follow-up measures of accelerometry, Six Minutes’ Walk Test (6MWT), self-efficacy and social support. Analyses of all intervention participants showed a significant increase in light PA and decrease in Sedentary Behavior (SB) in the postintervention with no differences in the 10-week follow-up as compared to baseline. Participants had a significant drop in the 6MWT in the follow-up and perceived lower social-support from staff in the postintervention as compared to baseline. The findings show that the exercise program is effective for adults with ID to increase LPA and reduce SB but is ineffective on moderate-intensity PA, aerobic fitness and self-efficacy.

Keywords:Intellectual disabilities; Six minutes’ walk test; GHs; Sedentary behavior; PA; Aerobic fitness