Participation in Leisure Activities by Children and Adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

To describe leisure activities of children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in terms of diversity, intensity, and enjoyment, and to identify potential determinants.

One hundred seven children and adolescents aged 8-17 years diagnosed with JIA and their families participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants answered the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment, which measures involvement in leisure (recreation, active physical, social, skill-based, self-improvement). Disease characteristics and sociodemographic factors were abstracted from the child's medical file.

In terms of intensity, individuals with JIA were more often engaged in informal rather than formal leisure activities [t(106) = 45.5, p < 0.0001]. When intensity scores were compared across activity type, results showed that participants with JIA were most often involved in social and recreational activities (p < 0.001). The level of enjoyment was highest for social activities and lowest for self-improvement activities (p < 0.001). Those with active arthritis displayed less diverse (p = 0.016) and less intense (p = 0.011) participation in active physical activities, and less frequent involvement in informal activities (p = 0.043) compared with those who were asymptomatic.

Children and adolescents with JIA tend to participate more in sedentary types of activities. Greater disease activity may dissuade children and adolescents from participating in more active pursuits, which places them at greater risk for adopting sedentary lifestyles. The identification of determinants of leisure activities in children and adolescents with arthritis may allow healthcare professionals to assess children's health needs with more precision and promote a healthier lifestyle.