Social support, resilience and subjective well-being in Portuguese athletes with disabilities

Abstract

This review aims to summarise the studies’ insightful exploration of the relationship between adapted sport, social support, resilience, and well-being among Portuguese athletes with disabilities. The research emphasises the crucial role of social support in access to sport, but interestingly, it may not always be directly correlated with resilience or subjective well-being. Athletes with disabilities show high resilience and positive affect while scoring lower regarding negative affect. Technical support is vital for federated athletes with disabilities, and friendships are universally significant. Resilience emerges as a central factor, with strong associations with subjective well-being, indicating its importance in the sporting context. In addition, resilience appears to buffer negative emotions, emphasising its crucial role. In conclusion, these results challenge existing assumptions and emphasise the multifaceted nature of the relationship between social support, resilience and well-being among athletes with disabilities. This knowledge has practical implications for stakeholders, including parents, coaches, therapists, psychologists, and society. They underline the importance of fostering inclusive sports programmes and promoting awareness and partnerships to improve the well-being, resilience and social support of individuals with disabilities, ultimately contributing to their personal development, quality of life and social integration. Policymakers and organisations should consider these conclusions when formulating education and sports policies.