Research Article  |   May 2013
Detecting Differences in Activities of Daily Living Between Children With and Without Mild Disabilities
Brigitte E. Gantschnig; Julie Page; Ingeborg Nilsson; Anne G. Fisher
Author Affiliations
  • Brigitte E. Gantschnig, MScOT, is Research Officer, Institute of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Technikumstrasse 71, Postfach, CH-8401 Winterthur Switzerland; brigitte.gantschnig@zhaw.ch
  • Julie Page, PhD, is Professor and Head of Research and Development, Institute of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
  • Ingeborg Nilsson, PhD, is Lecturer, Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
  • Anne G. Fisher, ScD, is Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, and Affiliate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Applied Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
Article Information
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention / Rehabilitation, Participation, and Disability / Children and Youth
Research Article   |   May 2013
Detecting Differences in Activities of Daily Living Between Children With and Without Mild Disabilities
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May/June 2013, Vol. 67, 319-327. doi:10.5014/ajot.2013.007013
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May/June 2013, Vol. 67, 319-327. doi:10.5014/ajot.2013.007013
Abstract

OBJECTIVE. We evaluated whether the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) measures are valid for detecting differences in activities of daily living (ADL) ability among children with and without mild disabilities.

METHOD. Retrospective data from the AMPS database were analyzed using many-facet Rasch analyses and forced regression analyses to evaluate for significant group differences.

RESULTS. Regression analyses of data for 10,998 children ages 4–15 who met the inclusion criteria revealed significant Age × Group interaction effects (B ≥ 0.23, T ≥ 6.20, p ≤ .001). Post hoc t tests revealed significant group differences in ADL ability at all ages beyond age 4. ADL process ability effect sizes were moderate to large at all ages, and ADL motor ability was mostly moderate to large at ages 6 or older.

CONCLUSION. These findings support the validity of the AMPS measures when used to identify ADL problems among children with mild disabilities.