The influence of participation in leisure activities on quality of life in Spanish children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy.
More enjoyable, kid-chosen leisure means better quality of life for children with CP.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Badia et al. (2013) asked Spanish kids and teens with cerebral palsy about their free-time fun. They used two checklists to count how many activities each child did, how often, and how much they liked them.
The team then looked at quality-of-life scores to see if more play meant happier kids.
What they found
Kids who tried more kinds of informal fun—like hanging out at the park or playing cards at home—scored higher on mood, friends, and overall well-being. Enjoyment mattered more than the number of minutes.
Even light, low-cost activities gave a big boost when the child picked them.
How this fits with other research
Longo et al. (2013) used the same Spanish registry and found the group already had low activity variety, so Marta’s positive link shows room for quick wins.
Majnemer et al. (2015) followed the same kids for two years and saw leisure drop as they became teens—seemingly the opposite trend. The difference is time: Marta’s snapshot can’t show decline, but both agree enjoyment is key.
McIntyre et al. (2017) extended the idea to younger children, showing that better communication and motor skills predict more play. Together the papers say: start early, keep it fun, and remove barriers before the teen drop-off hits.
Why it matters
You don’t need fancy gear to help a client with CP. Ask what they love, then weave two or three informal choices into weekly routines. A favorite board game at home or a short walk with a friend can lift mood right away. Track enjoyment, not just duration, and revisit the list each quarter to fight the teen-year slump.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Participation is an important modifiable quality of life (QOL) determinant and a key outcome measure. The aim of this study was to confirm if participation in leisure activities affects the QOL domains in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Spain. A total of 206 children and adolescents with CP (and their parents), 115 boys and 91 girls, mean age of 11.96 years (SD=3.00; range 8-18 years) participated in the study. Distribution according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was 24.3% Level I, 18% Level II, 18% Level III, 12.6% Level IV, and 27.2% Level V. Participation in leisure activities was assessed using the Spanish version of Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) and QOL using the KIDSCREEN parents' version. Diversity, intensity and enjoyment of participation explained the levels of QOL in the Physical well-being, Psychological well-being, Autonomy, Parent relation & home life and Social support & peers domains, independently of gender, age and level of impairment (motor and intellectual). We also found that intensity and enjoyment of participation in informal activities had more influence on the different QOL domains. The most influenced domain by the enjoyment of participation in all domains and types of CAPE activities was Psychological well-being. The participation in leisure activities had a positive effect on the QOL of the Spanish children and adolescents with CP.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.06.017