The effect of a Goalball-Based Empowerment Program on Motor Skills, Loneliness, and mental vitality in Students with Visual Impairments

Dastbaz, Anwar; Youzi, Banfsheh; Rahmani, Saifollah

doi:10.22034/jrc.2026.146210.1043

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

² Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch, Kurdistan, Iran.

³ Department of Counseling and Psychology, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/jrc.2026.146210.1043

Abstract

Background and Objective: Given the established role of adapted sports in promoting the physical and psychological functioning of individuals with visual impairment, evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions remains an important research priority. Accordingly, this study investigated the effects of a goalball-based empowerment program on motor skills, loneliness, and subjective vitality in students with visual impairment.
Method: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with a control group. The study population comprised all students aged 10–14 years with visual impairment who were registered with the Kurdistan Province Blind and Visually Impaired Association during the 2025–2026 academic year. Using purposive sampling, 30 eligible participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). The intervention group participated in a 12-session goalball-based empowerment program (two 90-minute sessions per week). Data were collected using the Lincoln–Oseretsky Motor Development Scale, the Loneliness Scale, and the Subjective Vitality Scale. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS version 26.
Findings: The results indicated that the goalball-based empowerment program significantly improved motor skills, reduced loneliness, and enhanced mental vitality in the experimental group compared with the control group. These effects remained stable at follow-up. However, the intervention did not have a significant effect on emotional loneliness.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that goalball, as a socio-motor intervention, may be an effective approach for improving motor skills, reducing loneliness, and promoting mental vitality.

Keywords

20.1001.1.31160344.1405.2.5.6.5

Main Subjects

Rehabilitation

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Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling

The effect of a Goalball-Based Empowerment Program on Motor Skills, Loneliness, and mental vitality in Students with Visual Impairments

References

References

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5
July 2026
Pages 379-396

The effect of a Goalball-Based Empowerment Program on Motor Skills, Loneliness, and mental vitality in Students with Visual Impairments

References

References

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5July 2026Pages 379-396

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5
July 2026
Pages 379-396