Therapeutic physical activity as a recreational intervention for anger control among students with physical disability: a behavioral model
- 1Department of Physical Education, College of Education, King Faisal University , ,
- 2Department of Physical Education and Sports, College of Basic Education, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training ,
Abstract
Background: Therapeutic Physical Activity (TPA) is an unaddressed behavioral recreational method in anger management programs in higher education in Egypt, especially among students with physical disabilities (SWPD).
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an 8-week TPA intervention on the severity of anger in male university students with physical disabilities in Egypt.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design (parallel-group) was used with 140 male undergraduate students at Minia University who were randomly divided into an 8-week TPA group (n = 70) and a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group (n = 70). Severity of anger was measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention with the PROMIS Anger Short Form 8a.
Results: There was a clinically significant and statistically significant difference between the TPA and controls in the severity of anger, F(1, 137) = 48.62, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.262, with a mean difference of −10.42 T-score points (95% CI: −13.48, −7.36) greater than the MCID. Reductions in anger were not associated with physical functioning changes, indicating non-physiological mechanisms. Moderately positive relationships were found between adherence and anger reduction (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), and sensitivity analyses showed that the results were consistent across disability severity.
Conclusion: TPA is a culturally affirming, body-based, anger-management approach that incorporates adaptive sports and behavioral learning for SWPD emotion regulation. Therapeutic recreation may be implemented as a low-stigma, easy-to-access supplemental mental health support program in the University disability services, especially for male students in collectivist contexts.
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BibTeX
@article{hassan2026therapeutic,
title = {{Therapeutic physical activity as a recreational intervention for anger control among students with physical disability: a behavioral model}},
author = {Ahmed K. Hassan and Maryam Khalifah Arab and Abdulmalek K. Bursais and Badeer Aldimkhi and Albujulaya Naif},
journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnbeh.2026.1969746},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719462},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Therapeutic physical activity as a recreational intervention for anger control among students with physical disability: a behavioral model
AU - Ahmed K. Hassan
AU - Maryam Khalifah Arab
AU - Abdulmalek K. Bursais
AU - Badeer Aldimkhi
AU - Albujulaya Naif
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience
DO - 10.3389/fnbeh.2026.1969746
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719462
AB - Background: Therapeutic Physical Activity (TPA) is an unaddressed behavioral recreational method in anger management programs in higher education in Egypt, especially among students with physical disabilities (SWPD). Purpose: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an 8-week TPA intervention on the severity of anger in male university students with physical disabilities in Egypt. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design (parallel-group) was used with 140 male undergraduate students at Minia University who were randomly divided into an 8-week TPA group (n = 70) and a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group (n = 70). Severity of anger was measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention with the PROMIS Anger Short Form 8a. Results: There was a clinically significant and statistically significant difference between the TPA and controls in the severity of anger, F(1, 137) = 48.62, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.262, with a mean difference of −10.42 T-score points (95% CI: −13.48, −7.36) greater than the MCID. Reductions in anger were not associated with physical functioning changes, indicating non-physiological mechanisms. Moderately positive relationships were found between adherence and anger reduction (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), and sensitivity analyses showed that the results were consistent across disability severity. Conclusion: TPA is a culturally affirming, body-based, anger-management approach that incorporates adaptive sports and behavioral learning for SWPD emotion regulation. Therapeutic recreation may be implemented as a low-stigma, easy-to-access supplemental mental health support program in the University disability services, especially for male students in collectivist contexts.
SN - 1662-5153
ER -