Effects of Alternated Basketball Competition on Perceived Competence in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities Over a Period of 13 Months: A research note

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of alternated (segregated and integrated) basketball competition on two domains of perceived competence and on general self-worth. Participants were 24 adolescent males with intellectual disabilities divided equally into three groups: (a) those involved in basketball in an alternated sport competition, (b) those involved in adapted physical activity, and (c) those who were sedentary. The experimental treatment lasted for 13 months. For the sport competition group this involved 2 hr of training each week and 12 competitive meets. We administered Harter's (1985) Self-Perception Profile for Children 13 times to determine changes in perceived competence and general self-worth. The results indicate no significant changes for the different groups in the two domains of perceived competence and in general self-worth over 13 months.