The association between sport-technology use and kinesiophobia among people with disabilities: serial multiple mediation of health locus of control and self-efficacy

BackgroundIn the fear-avoidance model, kinesiophobia is a critical affective barrier that is associated with persistent activity avoidance and psychological distress among people with disabilities. While sport-technology use correlates with lower levels of kinesiophobia, the indirect pathways that may explain this relationship remain underexplored, especially in individuals who are already physically active and engaged with technology. This study examined how sport-technology use relates to kinesiophobia in a specific subpopulation of adults with sensory or physical disabilities, and explored the independent and serial associative roles of health locus of control and self-efficacy in this relationship.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with 901 adults from China who had physical, visual, or hearing impairments, were current sport-technology users (cumulative use ≥1 month, ≥1 time/month), and had participated in physical activity within the past 6 months. Individuals with intellectual or multiple disabilities were excluded. Bootstrap analyses were used to estimate the total, direct, and indirect associations, including independent indirect associations via health locus of control and self-efficacy, as well as their serial indirect association.ResultsGreater sport-technology use was associated with lower kinesiophobia (β = −0.268, 95% CI [−0.326, −0.209]). The total indirect association represented 33.58% of the total association. Significant indirect pathways were identified through health locus of control alone, through self-efficacy alone, and through the serial route from health locus of control to self-efficacy.ConclusionIn this group of physically active sport-technology users with sensory or physical disabilities, Greater sport-technology use predicted lower levels of kinesiophobia. This relationship was statistically mediated by independent and serial indirect effects through health locus of control and self-efficacy.