Goalball as a meaningful activity: identity, spirituality, and meaning among people with visual impairments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/arfpcx98Keywords:
Goalball, visual impairment, occupational identity, spirituality, adapted sportAbstract
Goalball, a Paralympic sport designed for people with visual impairments, has been studied mainly for its physical and social benefits, with little attention to subjective dimensions such as occupational identity, spirituality, beliefs, and values. This qualitative research, framed within the interpretive paradigm, analyzed the experiences of five athletes from the Biobío Region (Chile) through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. The results show that the practice of Goalball operates as a meaningful occupation that transforms limiting beliefs —moving from discouragement to autonomy and self-efficacy—, promotes values such as empathy, respect, cooperation, and resilience, and channels spiritual dimensions linked to life purpose and mental strength. Furthermore, the sport contributes to the construction of a positive occupational identity, acting as a mirror of personal and collective growth. However, structural tensions persist: discontinuity of public policies, political instrumentalization of disability, and a gap between the inclusive sports environment and other social contexts that limit the transfer of learning. From the perspective of Occupational Therapy and the Model of Human Occupation, it is concluded that Goalball not only favors identity reconstruction but also requires a collective approach aimed at transforming restrictive environments. Expanding the sample and conducting longitudinal follow-ups are recommended to deepen understanding of these processes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Felipe Cárdenas-Villaroel, Sebastián Burgos-Carrasco, Francisco Olmos González, Andrea Cabezas Herrera, Angélica Tapia Méndez, Belén Rodríguez Guiñez, Damaris Toloza Soto (Autor/a)
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