Environmental factors influencing leisure participation of children with movement impairments in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A mixed method study

Abstract

We conducted a mixed method study to explore the environmetal factors affecting leisure participation of children with movement impairments aged six to 12 years in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Families of children with movement impairments completed the “Craig’s Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors for Children-Parent Version” questionnaire and in-depth individual interviews of children, along with their parents or guardian, were undertaken. Fifty-nine families participated in the survey, with 22 of these also participating in the interview. We used descriptive statistics for quantitative data and the general inductive approach to analyse the qualitative data. The findings of each were then integrated. We found a mismatch between a child’s ability and existing leisure activity opportunities/choices at various settings. Restrictions to participation included non-inclusive school-based physical education programmes, limited tailoring of community-based programmes and inaccessible neighbourhood environments. To maximise the leisure activity opportunities in Aotearoa/New Zealand, concerted efforts are required by health professionals, including physiotherapists, schools, disability organisations and policymakers, to create and offer adaptive and/or inclusive leisure activity programmes to children of all ages and abilities at their school, community and local neighbourhood.