EVALUATION OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS OF B2-B3 VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE DOING SPORTS

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine of healthy life style behaviors of B2-B3 visually impaired individuals doing sports, and the second purpose was to test the relationship between these two variables. The sample group of the study consisted of 112 (44 male, 68 female) visually impaired individuals classified B2-B3 doing sports. Individuals in good health, with or without disabilities will provide a balanced life with themselves with their environment. So, the healthy individuals will be able to have a good communication with their environment and they will enjoy life. And this will cause these people to be conscious of being healthy. As a data collection tool, a scale was used which was developed by Walker et al. in 1987 based on Pender’s health promotion model, that measures health promoting behaviors in relation with individual’s healthy life style. The scale was revised in 1996 and named as “Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale”. Regarding the validity and reliability of the scale, “Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II” was used which was made by Bahar et al. in 2008. Healthy lifestyle behaviors scale consists of 52 items. In order to evaluate the expressions in the scale, 4-point Likert-type scale was used (1: never, 2: sometimes, 3: frequently, 4: regularly). The scale has six subscales which are spirituality, nutrition, physical activity, health responsibility, interpersonal relationship and stress management. Mean, standard deviation, frequency, t-test for independent samples and one way analysis of variance test (One Way ANOVA) were used in the research, in order to determine the scores obtained from the scale used in the study. All these data were obtained, calculated and recorded by using the statistical program named SPSS 22.00. Cronbach’s Alpha value was calculated to determine the reliability of the scale used in the study. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of the participants according to their gender, income level, education level, sports branch, disability status, vision degree (p>0.05). According to this result, we can say that there is no difference in healthy life style behaviors among the participants, and also there is an increase in satisfaction of healthy life. Additionally, due to the same answers given about the healthy living in the scale, we can state that the expectations are also the similar. As a result, it has been determined that the participation in physical activities, staying away from the things deranging the health in their lives, all kinds of motivating factors that are beneficial to them are the most important healthy life style behaviors for visually impaired individuals, so they live their lives long and healthy like non-disabled people.

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