Exploring parents' experiences of promoting physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities

Introduction Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities participate in low levels of physical activity and have a greater reliance on their parents to provide activity opportunities. This study explored parents’ experiences of promoting physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. Methods Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight parents of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were independently coded and analysed by two researchers using thematic analysis. Results Four themes and nine subthemes were identified. Overall, parents had positive views of physical activity. However, parents face numerous barriers that limit their ability to promote physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. Conclusions Parents experience high levels of exclusion and stigma that negatively affect their promotion of physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. Overcoming the barriers faced by parents could therefore be an indirect method to increase physical activity in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.