Background/Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the mediating role of injury anxiety in the relationship between mental training and flow state among wheelchair basketball athletes. Although mental training is known to be essential for enhancing athletic performance, the underlying mechanisms through which it affects psychological states such as flow have been studied very limitedly, especially in adaptive sports. Methods: The research was conducted using a correlational survey model within a quantitative research framework. The study sample consisted of a total of 153 elite male wheelchair basketball athletes competing in leagues in Türkiye. Hayes’ Process Macro Model was used to test the mediating effect in the analysis of the data. Results: The analyses revealed that mental training significantly reduced injury anxiety (β = −0.328, p < 0.001), accounting for 7.6% of its variance. Injury anxiety had a significant negative effect on optimal performance (β = −0.3380, p < 0.001). The direct effect of mental training on performance remained positive and significant (β = 0.4324, p < 0.001). Together, the variables explained 43% of the variance in optimal performance. The total effect of mental training was also significant (β = 0.543, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings of this study reveal that mental training plays a significant role in both reducing injury anxiety and enhancing optimal performance among wheelchair basketball players. It was determined that injury anxiety functions as a mediating variable in the relationship between mental training and flow.

This study was conducted to examine pre-service teachers’ metaphorical perceptions of the concept of disability in relation to their regular participation in sporting activities. The research adopted a phenomenological design within the framework of a qualitative research approach. The study group consisted of 109 volunteer pre-service teachers enrolled at the Faculty of Sports Sciences and the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at İnönü University. Data were collected by asking participants to complete the statement “Disability is like … to me; because …” and were analysed using content analysis. The frequency and percentage distributions of the metaphors were calculated using SPSS 25. The findings revealed that participants produced 26 different metaphors, which were classified into eight conceptual categories. The category with the highest frequency was Purity and Attribution of Value; this was followed, in order, by Inadequacy and Restriction, Struggle and Resilience, Uniqueness and Awareness, Social and Emotional Approach, Dependence and Vulnerability, Uncertainty and Fear and Acceptance and Adaptation. The most frequently used metaphors were Innocence, Purity, Cleanliness and Restriction. Teacher trainees who exercised regularly produced metaphors more often within the Struggle and Resilience and Uniqueness and Awareness categories, whilst those who did not exercise regularly tended to produce metaphors within the Purity and Value Attribution, Inadequacy and Restriction and Social and Emotional Approach categories. Overall, the findings suggest that regular participation in sporting activities may be associated with metaphorical perceptions of disability and could contribute to future research and practice in teacher training, inclusive education and adapted physical activity.Keywords: Disability, Metaphor, Trainee Teachers, Fine Arts, Sports Science

The aim of this study is to examine the reasons why mothers encourage individuals with Down syndrome to participate in sport and recreational activities based on their views. The research group consisted of 16 mothers of individuals with Down syndrome, including 7 male and 9 female individuals, who participated in sport and recreational activities in Malatya, Türkiye. A qualitative research method, specifically a case study design, was used in this research. Data collection tools included a ‘Semi-Structured Interview Form’ developed by the researchers and a demographic information form. The data obtained from the study were analysed using content analysis. The data were classified under six themes: recreation, leisure time, health, family and social life, areas of development, and daily living skills. Mothers of individuals with Down syndrome stated that they encouraged individuals with Down syndrome to participate in sport and recreational activities because they perceived that these activities could contribute to maintaining health, supporting regular and healthy eating habits, and promoting an active and energetic lifestyle. In conclusion, the findings indicate that mothers encouraged individuals with Down syndrome to participate in sport and recreational activities based on their perceptions of potential benefits related to health, family and social life, developmental areas, and daily living skills. These findings reflect mothers’ reasons and perceptions and should not be interpreted as evidence of the direct effects of sport and recreational activities.

The aim of this research is to reveal the scope of the studies published within the scope of WoS regarding the concept of horticultural therapeutics and the variables used. Accordingly, the data obtained from the WoS database were analyzed through 1.6.19 VOSviewer. In our study, 673 results were reached in the search made from 1981 to 2024 by selecting “all fields” in Web of Science with the keywords (“horticultural therapy” OR “horticultural activity” OR “horticulture therapy” OR “therapeutic horticulture” OR “horticulture therapeutic recreation”). However, since the exclusion criteria were determined in our study, only articles and compilation articles and 458 data in the SCI-Expanded, SSCI, ESCI, and A&HCI indexes were analyzed. In the data analysis, analyses were conducted to determine the number of citations received and works pro-duced by authors, journals, countries, organizations, and the number of most frequently used words. The most frequently used keywords in publications related to the concept of horticultural therapy were horticultural therapy with 149 repetitions, gardening with 50 repetitions, mental health with 30 repetitions, therapeutic horticulture with 28 repetitions, and well-being with 22 repetitions. It is seen that horticultural therapy is the subject of “stress”, “anxiety”, “depression” and “psychological well-being” keywords.

The aim of this study is to examine the developmental gains achieved by individuals with Down syndrome in Malatya through regular participation in physical activities, from the perspective of their parents. The study is based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 9 parents (6 females, 3 males) working part-time at Down Cafe in Malatya and participating in physical activities. A qualitative research method was used, and data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and demographic information. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and descriptive analyses were performed. The data were categorized into six main themes: emotional development, social development, motor development, physical activity development, daily living skills development, and behavior change. The findings indicate that children with Down syndrome who participated in regular physical activities showed increased motivation, positive behavioral changes, improved communication skills, and enhanced motor abilities. Additionally, it was observed that these children engaged in harmonious interactions with their peers, lived according to rules, and supported their development through physical activities. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that regular physical activities significantly improve the social, emotional, and physical development of individuals with Down syndrome and contribute to the enhancement of their daily living skills. Future research should explore the effects of different physical activity programs and involve larger sample groups. Moreover, it is emphasized that physical activities should be more effectively integrated into rehabilitation processes.Keywords: Down Syndrome, Physical activity, Rehabilitation.

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between social support perception and psychological well-being among mothers of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A correlational survey model was used in this study in line with the research objectives. The study group consisted of mothers of individuals with intellectual disabilities (n=80) in two central districts of Malatya province. Convenience sampling was employed in the study. The Psychological Well-being Scale was used to measure the psychological well-being of the participating mothers, the “Perceived Support Scale for Families of Children with Disabilities” was used to measure their perceived levels of social support, and the “Parental Self-Efficacy Scale” was used to measure their self-efficacy. In addition, a personal information form was used to introduce the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the variables, and the normality assumption was examined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The relationships between the variables were evaluated using Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis. Mediation analyses were performed using the PROCESS Macro (Model 4) developed by Hayes, and the significance of indirect effects was tested using the bootstrap method (5000 samples). The internal consistency reliability of the scales used in this study sample was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: There are positive and significant relationships between each of the perceived social support sub-dimensions of appreciation, informational, emotional, and companionship and self-efficacy (r = 0.28–0.36; p <0.05). A positive and significant relationship was also found between the total perceived social support score and self-efficacy (r = 0.37, p 0.05). Psychological well-being showed only a moderate, positive and significant relationship with self-efficacy (r = 0.45, p <0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, it can be said that the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being is not direct, but indirect, mediated by self-efficacy.