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Background: Participation in physical activities (PA) is vital for the well-being of children and young adults with disabilities, yet barriers hinder their engagement. With the United Nations reporting 150 million children with disabilities, understanding the self-determination theory (SDT) role in promoting PA participation is essential for improving their health and well-being. It aimed to explore how intervention based on SDT facilitates the possible determinants for PA participation in children and young adults with disabilities (CAYAWD).

Methods: A systematic review approach was employed. Databases like PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched for studies published between 2006 and 2022. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and the quality of the selected studies was assessed using relevant checklists from SBU, 2018. Data synthesis included intervention, description, participant characteristics, and quality evaluation.

Results: This review analyzes seven studies on interventions for physical activity in CAYAWD based on SDT. Participants totalled 341 (mean age 12.6 years) with various conditions. Studies used motivational climates or basic psychological needs (BPN) in designing the interventions to enhance autonomous (intrinsic) motivation and improve needs satisfaction to increase PA. Significant effects included improved PA, need satisfaction and autonomous motivation. The measurement instruments had acceptable validity and internal consistency. Qualities of the included studies were moderate to high. The overall strength of the evidence was moderate. 

Conclusion: It emphasized that intrinsic motivation and need-satisfaction act as possible determinants for participation in PA among CAYAWD. It provides valuable insights into the importance of motivational climates in PA settings. The limited number of studies urges the need for interventional studies based on SDT among CAYAWD.