{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]],"date-time":"2026-06-26T08:47:09Z","timestamp":1782463629253,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Individuals with disabilities face a high risk of physical inactivity, leading to severe mental health challenges and social isolation. Aquatic physical activity, due to its unique physical properties, is considered an intervention with profound psychological potential. Guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study aims to systematically review the psychosocial, mental health, and functional benefits of aquatic physical activity for individuals with disabilities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study strictly followed the PRISMA guidelines to search for high-quality literature published up to February 2026 in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus. Two independent researchers conducted the screening based on strict PICOS criteria.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Following the search and screening, 21 core articles were included. The extracted data confirmed that aquatic interventions act as profound psychological facilitators. They significantly reduce depressive symptoms and anxiety (\n                      <jats:italic>Z<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f\u22122.294) and enhance social skills and peer interaction (Cohen\u2019s\n                      <jats:italic>d<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.76). Furthermore, physiological improvements (e.g., in gross motor function and balance) act as critical mediators that boost perceived competence and autonomy, effectively reducing kinesiophobia (fear of movement).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Aquatic physical activity is a safe and highly effective adaptive health intervention. The aquatic medium serves as a \u201cnatural de-marginalisation space\u201d that mitigates internal psychological barriers and societal ableism. These findings provide critical, evidence-based insights for sport psychology practitioners, coaches, and policymakers to design inclusive, confidence-building interventions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1837063","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T23:10:22Z","timestamp":1782342622000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The psychosocial and mental health benefits of aquatic physical activity for individuals with disabilities: a systematic review from a sport psychology perspective"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Ti","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Sanming University","place":["Sanming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Min-Hao","family":"Hung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Office of Physical Education, National Chin-Yi University of Technology","place":["Taichung, Taiwan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yen-Tzu","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Office, National Cheng Kung University","place":["Tainan, Taiwan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hsin-Huan","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Tourism and Leisure Management, Yu Da University of Science and Technology","place":["Zaoqiao, Taiwan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chun-Ju","family":"Liao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Athletic Sports, National Chung Cheng University","place":["Chiayi, Taiwan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Po-Han","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Athletics Sports, National Chung Cheng University","place":["Chiayi, Taiwan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1504352","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1504352","article-title":"Association between social inclusion and mental health among people with disabilities engaged in sports clubs: a cross-sectional survey","volume":"16","author":"Al Harthy","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. 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