Research Article
Issue Date: July/August 2018
Published Online: May 01, 2018
Updated: April 30, 2020
Characteristics Influencing Diversity of Participation of Children in Activities Outside School
Nora Shields; Brooke Adair; Peter Wilson; Elspeth Froude; Christine Imms
Author Affiliations
  • Nora Shields, PhD, is Professor of Clinical and Community Practice, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and Northern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; n.shields@latrobe.edu.au
  • Brooke Adair, PhD, is Research Program Manager, School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and Centre for Disability and Development Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Peter Wilson, PhD, is Professor of Developmental Psychology and Co-Director, Centre for Disability and Development Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Elspeth Froude, PhD, is Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy and Deputy Head of School, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Christine Imms, PhD, is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Head of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Disability and Development Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Article Information
Ethics / Health and Wellness / Obesity / Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention / Rehabilitation, Participation, and Disability / School-Based Practice / Research Articles
Research Article   |   May 01, 2018
Characteristics Influencing Diversity of Participation of Children in Activities Outside School
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May 2018, Vol. 72, 7204205010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.026914
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, May 2018, Vol. 72, 7204205010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.026914
Abstract

OBJECTIVE. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine which personal and environmental characteristics influenced diversity of participation in activities outside school for typically developing children and adolescents.

METHOD. Four hundred twenty-two (215 boys) typically developing Australian children (mean = 11.0 yr) completed the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) and the Preferences for Activity of Children to describe their participation on five activity types: Recreational, Active Physical, Social, Self-Improvement, and Skill-Based. Linear regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS. Predictors of participation diversity were age and preference for Recreational (aR2 = .44); preference for Active Physical (aR2= .19); gender, school type, and preference for Social (aR2 = .19); preference for Skill-Based (aR2 = .25); and gender, school style, socioeconomic score, and preference for Self-Improvement (aR2 = .24).

CONCLUSION. Preference plays a key role in determining the diversity of participation in activities outside school.