The Correlation Between Leisure Participation and Parental Life Balance in Children and Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy and Their Typically Developing Peers

Objectives: Leisure participation is restricted among children with cerebral palsy (CP). This leads to adverse consequences on their health and well-being. Identifying the associated factors of leisure participation can help in planning interventions for its promotion. This study aims to investigate the correlation between leisure participation and parental life balance in children/adolescents with CP and their typically developing peers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April ۲۰۲۱, in Bojnourd City, Iran. The target population of this study was children/adolescents with CP between the ages of ۷ to ۱۷ years. We recruited ۶۸ children/adolescents with CP and ۶۶ of their typical peers using the convenience sampling method. All children and adolescents completed the children’s participation and enjoyment questionnaire while their parents answered the life balance inventory questions.  Results: The Mean±SD age of children/adolescents with CP was ۱۰.۱۳±۲.۵۳, and ۵۴.۴% were boys. The mean age of typically developing children/adolescents was ۱۰.۵۰±۲.۹۸, and ۵۴.۵% were boys. In the CP group, the mothers’ life balance was correlated with the leisure participation of their children (P=۰.۰۱). Also, the fathers’ life balance was correlated with the leisure participation of their adolescents (P=۰.۰۱). The correlation between the mothers’ life balance and the leisure participation of their adolescents, and also between the father’s life balance and the leisure participation of their children was not significant (P>۰.۰۵) in the CP group. The leisure participation of typically developing children and adolescents was not correlated with their parental life balance (P>۰.۰۵). Discussion: The leisure participation of children and adolescents with CP was correlated with the life balance of their parents. Occupational therapists and other health professionals are advised to consider the parental life balance in their plans to promote the leisure participation of children and adolescents with CP.

Keywords:

Adolescents , Cerebral palsy , Children , Leisure , Life balance