Differences in Meaning of Occupations Between Children With and Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Developmental psychology
• Pediatric neurology

Background:

• Meaningful occupations are crucial for children's participation.
• Neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may alter children's perception of occupations.
• Understanding these differences is key to optimizing therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare dimensions of occupational meaning (challenge, value, felt time, autonomy) between children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders.
• To examine the association between these meaning dimensions and participation in both groups.

Main Methods:

• Thirty children with ASD/ADHD and 30 typically developing children (mean age 9.37 years) participated.
• Children self-reported on the meaning of occupations.
• Parents reported on their children's participation.

Main Results:

• Children with neurodevelopmental disorders reported significantly different meanings of occupations compared to typically developing peers (large effect size).
• For children with neurodevelopmental disorders, the value and autonomy dimensions of occupational meaning were positively correlated with participation.
• No significant correlations were found for challenge or felt time dimensions.

Conclusions:

• Children with neurodevelopmental disorders ascribe distinct meanings to occupations.
• Occupational therapists should prioritize fostering autonomy and engagement in valued activities to enhance participation in children with ASD/ADHD.
• Findings contribute to understanding occupational meaning and its impact on participation in pediatric populations.