Physical activity mentoring programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review

Physical activity and mentorship programs provide several benefits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This article seeks to provide guidelines for the development of mentoring interventions to support physical activity for this group of people.

An interpretative scoping review was implemented. Eligible studies involved people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mentors, mentees or program beneficiaries of physical activity-related mentoring.

Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Mentoring was linked with improved personal factors, enhancement in environmental bindings, and healthier behaviours. Common barriers included caregiver over-protection, transportation limitations, and insufficient mentor-mentee ratios.

Effective physical activity mentoring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities hinges on balancing personal development with supportive social and physical environments. Integrating face-to-face and e-mentoring components may broaden reach and sustainability. Future work should prioritise rigorous trial designs and consistent reporting of FITT principles to refine evidence-based guidelines.