IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jdisab/v5y2025i2p33-d1617601.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Systematic Review of Volunteer Motivation and Satisfaction in Disability Sports Organizations

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Muñoz-Llerena

    (Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
    Research Group “Social Inclusion, Physical Education and Sport, and European Policies in Research” (HUM-1061), University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain)

  • Salvador Angosto

    (Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
    Research Group “UMUSPORT” (EB05-01), University of Murcia, 30720 San Javier, Spain)

  • Carlos Pérez-Campos

    (Campus Capacitas, Universidad Católica de Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain)

  • Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez

    (Research Group “Social Inclusion, Physical Education and Sport, and European Policies in Research” (HUM-1061), University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
    Department of Integrated Didactics, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain)

Abstract

Volunteering in sports for people with disabilities is a crucial element for social inclusion and development. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyze the existing literature on the motivation, satisfaction, engagement, and commitment of volunteers in sports for people with disabilities. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across four databases, the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and SportDiscus, resulting in the inclusion of 16 studies. The geographic distribution showed the existence of studies on all continents, particularly in Europe and Asia, and most studies were quantitative. The findings revealed that volunteer motivation was predominantly intrinsic, driven by values, understanding, and personal growth, with less emphasis on extrinsic factors such as career advancement. Satisfaction levels were generally high, particularly among student volunteers, who also showed strong future intentions to continue volunteering. As a conclusion, there was a limited number of studies exclusively focused on volunteers participating in sports for people with disabilities. This review highlights the need for more research on diverse types of disabilities and the development of inclusive policies and training programs to enhance volunteer experiences. The study underscores the importance of recognizing both personal and professional motivators to effectively recruit and retain volunteers in sports organizations supporting people with disabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Muñoz-Llerena & Salvador Angosto & Carlos Pérez-Campos & Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez, 2025. "A Systematic Review of Volunteer Motivation and Satisfaction in Disability Sports Organizations," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-33, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdisab:v:5:y:2025:i:2:p:33-:d:1617601
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/5/2/33/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/5/2/33/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kim, May & Zhang, James J. & Connaughton, Dan, 2010. "Modification of the Volunteer Functions Inventory for application in youth sports," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 25-38, February.
    2. Pam Kappelides & Jennifer Spoor, 2019. "Managing sport volunteers with a disability: Human resource management implications," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(5), pages 694-707, December.
    3. Mateusz Rozmiarek, 2024. "Research Trends in Sports Volunteering: A Focus on Polish Contributions to Global Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Neal R. Haddaway & Matthew J. Page & Chris C. Pritchard & Luke A. McGuinness, 2022. "PRISMA2020: An R package and Shiny app for producing PRISMA 2020‐compliant flow diagrams, with interactivity for optimised digital transparency and Open Synthesis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), June.
    5. Salvador Angosto & Hyejin Bang & Gonzalo A. Bravo & Arturo Díaz-Suárez & José María López-Gullón, 2021. "Motivations and Future Intentions in Sport Event Volunteering: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Kenneth F Schulz & Douglas G Altman & David Moher & for the CONSORT Group, 2010. "CONSORT 2010 Statement: Updated Guidelines for Reporting Parallel Group Randomised Trials," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-7, March.
    7. Mateusz Rozmiarek & Joanna Poczta & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko, 2021. "Motivations of Sports Volunteers at the 2023 European Games in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, June.
    8. Alexander, Amanda & Kim, Sung-Bum & Kim, Dae-Young, 2015. "Segmenting volunteers by motivation in the 2012 London Olympic Games," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 1-10.
    9. Kappelides, Pam & Spoor, Jennifer, 2019. "Managing sport volunteers with a disability: Human resource management implications," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(5), pages 694-707.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Salvador Angosto & Hyejin Bang & Gonzalo A. Bravo & Arturo Díaz-Suárez & José María López-Gullón, 2021. "Motivations and Future Intentions in Sport Event Volunteering: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Wicker, Pamela, 2017. "Volunteerism and volunteer management in sport," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 325-337.
    3. Thomas Giel & Christoph Breuer, 2020. "The determinants of the intention to continue voluntary football refereeing," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 242-255, April.
    4. Mateusz Rozmiarek, 2024. "Research Trends in Sports Volunteering: A Focus on Polish Contributions to Global Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Ángel Enrique & Juana Bretón-López & Guadalupe Molinari & Rosa M. Baños & Cristina Botella, 2018. "Efficacy of an adaptation of the Best Possible Self intervention implemented through positive technology: a randomized control trial," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 671-689, September.
    6. Gerben ter Riet & Paula Chesley & Alan G Gross & Lara Siebeling & Patrick Muggensturm & Nadine Heller & Martin Umbehr & Daniela Vollenweider & Tsung Yu & Elie A Akl & Lizzy Brewster & Olaf M Dekkers &, 2013. "All That Glitters Isn't Gold: A Survey on Acknowledgment of Limitations in Biomedical Studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-6, November.
    7. Spyridon N Papageorgiou & Georgios N Antonoglou & George K Sándor & Theodore Eliades, 2017. "Randomized clinical trials in orthodontics are rarely registered a priori and often published late or not at all," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Eun-Hi Kong & Myoungsuk Kim & Seonho Kim, 2021. "Effects of a Web-Based Educational Program Regarding Physical Restraint Reduction in Long-Term Care Settings on Nursing Students: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    9. Stavros Petrou & Oliver Rivero-Arias & Helen Dakin & Louise Longworth & Mark Oppe & Robert Froud & Alastair Gray, 2015. "Preferred Reporting Items for Studies Mapping onto Preference-Based Outcome Measures: The MAPS Statement," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 35(6), pages 1-8, August.
    10. Alexander P. L. Martindale & Carrie D. Llewellyn & Richard O. Visser & Benjamin Ng & Victoria Ngai & Aditya U. Kale & Lavinia Ferrante Ruffano & Robert M. Golub & Gary S. Collins & David Moher & Melis, 2024. "Concordance of randomised controlled trials for artificial intelligence interventions with the CONSORT-AI reporting guidelines," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Stabak Roy & Saptarshi Mitra, 2023. "Enhancing Bilateral Relations and Regional Cooperation: Analysing the Feasibility and Implications of India–Myanmar Railway Connectivity," South Asian Survey, , vol. 30(1), pages 72-98, March.
    12. Maria Giné-Garriga & Carme Martin-Borràs & Anna Puig-Ribera & Carlos Martín-Cantera & Mercè Solà & Antonio Cuesta-Vargas & on behalf of the PPAF Group, 2013. "The Effect of a Physical Activity Program on the Total Number of Primary Care Visits in Inactive Patients: A 15-Month Randomized Controlled Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-8, June.
    13. Nahid Norouzi-Gheidari & Alejandro Hernandez & Philippe S. Archambault & Johanne Higgins & Lise Poissant & Dahlia Kairy, 2019. "Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Exergame System to Supplement Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Post-Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial and Proof of Principle," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Juliusz Huber & Katarzyna Kaczmarek & Katarzyna Leszczyńska & Przemysław Daroszewski, 2022. "Post-Stroke Treatment with Neuromuscular Functional Electrostimulation of Antagonistic Muscles and Kinesiotherapy Evaluated with Electromyography and Clinical Studies in a Two-Month Follow-Up," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    15. Süreyya Kılıç & Sema Dereli Yılmaz, 2023. "Virtual Reality Headset Simulating a Nature Environment to Improve Health Outcomes in Pregnant Women: A Randomized-Controlled Trial," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 32(8), pages 1104-1114, November.
    16. Denise Howel & Suzanne Moffatt & Catherine Haighton & Andrew Bryant & Frauke Becker & Melanie Steer & Sarah Lawson & Terry Aspray & Eugene M G Milne & Luke Vale & Elaine McColl & Martin White, 2019. "Does domiciliary welfare rights advice improve health-related quality of life in independent-living, socio-economically disadvantaged people aged ≥60 years? Randomised controlled trial, economic and p," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-31, January.
    17. Reynolds, J.P. & Pilling, M. & Marteau, T.M., 2018. "Communicating quantitative evidence of policy effectiveness and support for the policy: Three experimental studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 1-12.
    18. Timo Neunaber & Sven Meister, 2023. "Digital Maturity and Its Measurement of General Practitioners: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, February.
    19. Niki Koutrou, 2018. "The Impact of the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup on Sustained Volunteering in the Rugby Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, March.
    20. Marlene De Fabritiis & Federica Trisolini & Gloria Bertuletti & Ionut Daniel Fagadau & Davide Ginelli & Katiuscia Pia Lalopa & Lisa Peverelli & Alessia Pirola & Gaia Sala & Marta Maisto & Fabio Madedd, 2022. "An Internet-Based Multi-Approach Intervention Targeting University Students Suffering from Psychological Problems: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jdisab:v:5:y:2025:i:2:p:33-:d:1617601. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.