Abstract
Despite the benefits of sport, few people with a physical disability participate in athletic activity. Transformational leadership (TFL) has been associated with affective well-being of athletes through the meditational effect of innate psychological need satisfaction as proposed by Deci and Ryan’s (1985) self-determination theory. Given the varying circumstances of this population, the purpose of this study was to examine how peer athlete mentors with a physical disability use individualized consideration to support mentees’ innate psychological needs when it comes to sport. We interviewed 9 peer athlete mentors with a physical disability who have mentored others to participate in sport. Interviews were grounded in TFL and transcribed verbatim. Two members of the research team coded the transcripts separately. Preliminary directed content analysis highlighted key themes relating individualized consideration and need satisfaction. Peer athlete mentors use individualized consideration to support autonomy by ensuring choice in the level and type of sports and the appropriate time to start a sport. Peer athlete mentors supported competence by ensuring that they contribute a positive first experience, and by assisting with overcoming real or perceived barriers. Lastly, they support relatedness by connecting mentees with others with similar levels of ability and age and by encouraging able-bodied individuals to participate in wheelchair sport. The results begin to demonstrate the applicability of self-determination theory to sport participation for individuals with a physical disability. Training programs for peer athlete mentors should incorporate an introduction to a variety of adapted sport programs to ensure the mentors have the knowledge to promote the appropriate sport to their mentees and should provide mentors instruction for giving positive encouragement and personal support. Results from this investigation will be disseminated to peer mentorship programs to increase sport participation in individuals with a physical disability.Acknowledgments: I would like to thank my co-authors for their support and guidance and the participants who gave their time generously.