Determinants of participation in leisure activities among adolescents with cerebral palsy.
For teens with CP, their stated leisure preferences predict participation better than any motor or IQ score.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked 175 teens with cerebral palsy what leisure activities they did.
They also tested the teens' motor skills, family income, and school type.
Then they ran math models to see which factors best predicted who stayed active.
What they found
The teens' own activity likes mattered most.
Motor scores, money, and school type added some weight, but personal choice beat them all.
In plain words: ask what they want to do before you worry about how well they can move.
How this fits with other research
Shikako-Dratsch et al. (2013) found the same group enjoys social activities most, but older and non-walking teens drop out faster.
Capio et al. (2013) widened the lens to adults with any developmental disability and saw the same pattern: people want social and physical fun but get stuck in solo screen time.
Amore et al. (2011) looked at younger kids with DCD and showed poor motor skills do shrink activity variety.
The twist: motor ability still matters for younger kids, yet by the teen years with CP, preference wins.
Why it matters
Start every plan by asking the teen, "What do you like?" Then use that answer to guide goals, not the other way around.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Studies have identified restrictions in engagement in leisure activities for adolescents with disabilities. Participation is a complex construct and likely influenced by a variety of factors. These potential determinants have not yet been sufficiently explored in the population of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). The objective of this study is to estimate the potential influence of adolescent characteristics and environmental factors as determinants of participation in leisure activities for adolescents with CP. A cross-sectional design was used. Participants were adolescents (12-19 years old) with cerebral palsy. Participants were assessed with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale - II, Gross Motor Function Measure, Gross Motor Function Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System and completed the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Family Environment Scale, the European Child Environment Questionnaire and the Preferences for Activities of Children. The main outcome measure was the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment. 187 adolescents (age M=15.4; SD=2.2) completed the study. Multivariate models of participation in leisure revealed associations with factors related to the adolescents' functional characteristics and attitudes, the family environment, socioeconomic status, and contextual factors such as school type, and collectively explained from 28% (diversity of skill-based activities) up to 48% (intensity and diversity of self-improvement activities) of the variance in intensity and diversity in five leisure participation domains (diversity: r(2)=.33 recreational; r(2)=.39 active-physical; r(2)=.33 social activities). Adolescent's mastery motivation, self-perception and behavior were individually associated with participation in different activity domains, but did not strongly predict participation within multivariate models, while preferences for activities were strong predictors of participation in all domains, except for skill-based activities. Engagement in different types of leisure activities is important for adolescents' development and well-being. Health care professionals should consider adolescents' and families' characteristics to promote participation in leisure activities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.05.013