Brazilian para-athletes: occupational roles over time

Figueiredo, Jéssica Maciel; Rodrigues, Wellington; Ribeiro, Regina Celi Fonseca; Mello, Andressa da Silva de; Guerreiro, Renato de Carvalho; Van Petten, Adriana Maria Valladão Novais

doi:10.1590/2526-8910.cto410740311

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Original Article • Cad. Bras. Ter. Ocup. 33 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.cto410740312 linkcopy

Brazilian para-athletes: occupational roles over time

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Introduction The engagement of individuals in meaningful occupations throughout life is fundamental. However, involvement in certain occupations may hinder performance in others that are equally important. A Paralympic career can generate great complexity in the lives of para-athletes, making it challenging to reconcile the routine of training and competitions with their other occupations, especially when it comes to para-athletes competing at the international level.

Objective The aim was to identify the athletic profile of the para-athlete and their participation in occupational roles over time.

Method This is an observational, descriptive study with Brazilian para-athletes. A questionnaire was used to characterize the sample and identify the athletic profile, as well as the Occupational Role Identification List. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used.

Results A total of 80 Brazilian para-athletes participated, from 5 Paralympic sport modalities, undergoing training in two Paralympic reference centers. It was observed that para-athletes experienced a decrease in performance in occupational roles when comparing the past and present, and they intend to return to or acquire new roles in the future.

Conclusion Some occupational roles with high levels of importance for para-athletes remain latent, making it extremely important to plan the career transition of these individuals so they can engage in new perspectives or resume meaningful occupations.

Keywords:
Sports for Persons with Disabilities; Para-Athletes; Occupational Therapy

Variable	Category	N	%
Sex	Female	32	40.00
	Male	48	60.00
Marital status	Married and/or on stable union	11	13.75
	Divorced	2	2.50
	Single	66	8.50
	Widow/widower	1	1.25
Education	Illiterate	1	1.25
	High school	44	55.00
	Higher education	18	22.50
	Primary school	4	5.00
	Middle school	13	16.25
ABEP	A	7	8.75
	B1	8	10.00
	B2	35	43.75
	C1	16	20.00
	C2	11	13.75
	DE	3	13.75
Disability type	Physical	52	65.00
	Intellectual	9	11.25
	Visual	13	16.25
	Multiple	6	7.50
Disability condition	Acquired	27	33.80
	Congenital	53	66.20
	Ẋ ± SD	Max	Min
Age	29.70 ± 8.44	55.00	14.00

Variable	Category	N	%
Modality	Athletics	45	56.25
	Cycling	1	1.25
	Weightlifting	5	6.25
	Swimming	23	28.75
	Parataekwondo	6	7.50
Type of competition	Individual	69	86.30
Type of competition	Individual and Collective	11	13.70
Competition level	International	29	36.25
	National	21	26.25
	State	7	6.75
	Regional	23	28.75
Training duration (Hours)	≤ 1	4	5.00
	1 to 2	40	50.00
	3 to 4	33	41.25
	≥ 5	3	3.75
Workouts per week	≤ 2	9	11.25
Workouts per week	3 to 4	14	17.50
	≥5	57	71.25
Promotion (Financial return)	Yes	44	55.00
Promotion (Financial return)	No	36	45.00

Occupational roles	Past		Present		Future
Occupational roles	n	%	n	%	n	%
Student	75	93.75	38	47.50	65	81.25
Worker	52	65.00	43	53.75	62	77.50
Volunteer	39	48.75	19	23.75	65	81.25
Caregiver	44	55.00	51	63.75	62	77.50
Home maintainer	67	83.75	66	82.50	66	82.50
Friend	65	81.25	65	81.25	69	86.25
Family member	72	90.00	66	82.50	68	85.00
Religious participant	63	78.75	43	53.75	52	65.00
Hobbyist/amateur	66	82.50	58	72.50	67	83.75
Participant in Organizations	31	38.75	26	32.50	47	58.75

Occupationalrole (Period)	Description
Occupationalrole (Period)	Ẋ	SD	Mn	Min	Max
Pastac	7.18	1.90	7.00	1	10
Presentb	5.90	1.60	6.00	2	9
Futurec	7.80	1.70	8.00	4	10

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Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Terapia Ocupacional Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, Caixa Postal 676, CEP: , 13565-905, São Carlos, SP - Brasil, Tel.: 55-16-3361-8749 - São Carlos - SP - Brazil
E-mail: cadto@ufscar.br

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[1] ABEP = Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa (Brazilian Association of Research Companies). N = number (absolute value). % = percentage (relative value). Ẋ = mean. SD = standard deviation. Max. = maximum value. Min. = minimum value. Source: Research data.