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Published on: June 12, 2020
Home participation, support and barriers among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder before and
Ozgun Kaya Kara1, Hasan Atacan Tonak1, Koray Kara2
1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed increased participation in home activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced environmental demands and better resource availability contributed to this enhanced engagement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Limited research exists on the participation of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in daily and leisure activities.
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered home environments and routines, potentially impacting children's engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the participation levels, environmental supports, and barriers for children with ADHD at home before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To investigate how changes in the home environment during the pandemic affected activity engagement for children with ADHD.
Main Methods:
- The study included 55 children diagnosed with ADHD, aged 6-11 years.
- The Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) was used to assess participation frequency, involvement, desire for change, supports, and barriers at home.
Main Results:
- Children with ADHD demonstrated significantly higher participation in computer/video games, socializing, and household chores during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- Mothers reported increased involvement for their children in various home activities, including computer games, hobbies, chores, and personal care during the pandemic.
- Environmental factors such as reduced cognitive and social demands, along with increased availability of services, supplies, and information, were associated with easier participation during the pandemic.
Conclusions:
- Mothers perceived increased participation in home-based activities for children with ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The study suggests that decreased cognitive/social demands and improved resource accessibility in the home environment during the pandemic facilitated greater participation for children with ADHD.
Objectives:
Few studies have focused on the participation of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in daily routine and leisure activities. This study aimed to compare the participation, support and barriers for children with ADHD at home pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Methods:
The study included 55 children with ADHD aged 6-11 years. Participation frequency, involvement, desire for change, supports and barriers at home were assessed using the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY).
Results:
During the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-COVID-19 period, the mean frequency of participation of children with ADHD in computer and video games (5.8% vs 5%, respectively), socialising with other people (7% vs 6.2%) and household chores (5.5% vs 4.6%) was shown to be significantly higher (p < 0.05). Mothers of children with ADHD reported higher levels of involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-COVID-19 period across four areas of home participation, including computer and video games (4.1% vs 3.2%, respectively), arts, crafts, music and hobbies (3.7% vs 3%), household chores (3.6% vs 2.8%) and personal care management (4.2% vs 3.5%) p < 0.05). Mothers of children with ADHD reported that during the pandemic the following two features of the environment made participation easier than pre-COVID-19 (p < 0.05): cognitive demands (36.4% vs 60%, respectively) and social demands (5.5% vs 34.5%). More mothers reported that services (92.7%), supplies (87.3%) and information (85.5%) were available and/or adequate in the COVID-19 period than pre-COVID-19 (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Mothers of children with ADHD reported that their children were participating more frequently in some of the home-related activities during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-COVID-19. Reduced cognitive and social demands, and more readily available resources in the home environment during the COVID-19 period resulted in increased home participation compared to pre-COVID-19.
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