Effect of Aerobic Training Exercise on the Quality of Life of Persons with Mild Intellectual Disability in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study investigated the effect of aerobic training exercise on the quality of life of persons with mild intellectual disability with emphasis on some selected aspects of quality of life which includes the physical, psychological and social or interpersonal relationship. The participants were twenty pupils from two special schools in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This study is significant as it revealed that pupils with intellectual disability have low quality of life in areas such as physical health, psychological well-being and social relations. These aspects of quality of life where they lag behind are so vital for their development and so should be given priority. Aerobic training on the other hand has been noted as a means of boosting quality of life. Two valid and reliable instruments (Slosson Intelligence Test (r=84) and World Health Quality of Life Scale (adopted) (r=92) were used to collect data. Three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics of Analysis of Covariance and Scheffe post-hoc test. Two (8.7%) of the participants had low socio-economic status, while six had (35.3%) average socio-economic status. There was significant difference in the quality of life of experimental participants in the pre-test and post-test (t=-16.219).The participants exposed to aerobic training exercise obtained a mean score of (x=52) while those of the control had (x=42.5). There was no significant main effect of aerobic training exercise and gender on the quality of life of the participants. There was no significant main effect of aerobic training on gender and socio-economic status on the quality of life of the participants. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that aerobic training exercise should be encouraged by teachers of persons with mild intellectual disability as this will help to enhance their quality of life.