Physical Health Behaviors of Children with Developmental Disabilities vs. Typically Developing Children: A National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) Dataset Analysis

Researcher(s)

  • Veda Sri Datta Kakaraparti, Neuroscience, University of Delaware

Faculty Mentor(s)

  • Anjana Bhat, Physical Therapy, University of Delaware

Abstract

Authors:

Veda Sri Datta Kakaraparti,(1,2) Leah Alexander,(1,2) Danielle Williams,(1,2) Swetha Kathiravan,(1,2) Jacob Corey,(1) Jung-Mei Tsai,(1) Anjana Bhat (1,2)

  1. Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program or Biomechanics & Movement Science, Physical Therapy Department, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713
  2. Behavioral Neuroscience Division, Psychological & Brain Sciences Department,

University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 

Email: vedasri@udel.edu; abhat@udel.edu

Abstract:

Children with developmental disabilities (DD) such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual disability (ID) commonly encounter lifelong challenges (e.g., social communication, cognitive abilities, daily functioning, sensory-motor skills, and mental health).(1) Physical health behavior challenges include low levels of physical activity, inconsistent and less sleep, excessive sedentary time, and less sport/community participation.(2-4) Together, these physical health challenges affect children’s functioning/performance at home, in their school and community.(5) The current study aimed to examine the prevalence of various negative physical health (PH) behaviors in children with DD based on parent responses about their child with / without DD from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH, N(final) = ~93,500).(6) These data were collected between 2020 to 2021 by NSCH and reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges in children with DD. We compared the odds of various negative PH behaviors between children with DD and those without DD by calculating the odds ratios using JMP Statistical Software. Compared to typically developing children, children with DD have greater odds for Less Physical Activity (PA) = 1.24, Less Sports Participation (SP) = 1.43, More Screen Time (ST) = 1.59, Less Sleep Hours (SH) = 1.82, and Inconsistent Bedtime (BT) = 1.87. These results show that more children with DD engage in less PA, SP, SH, more ST, and inconsistent BT compared to the TD population. Our results suggest that tailored interventions and support systems to children with DD are needed to promote optimal health outcomes, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexible healthcare models, and improvements in healthcare are needed to provide continued services in future pandemic scenarios. These findings offer healthcare practitioners, educators, and families an improved understanding of physical health challenges of children with DD and factors affecting them.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities, sensory-motor skills, COVID-19.

References:

  1. Developmental Disabilities: Delivery of Medical Care for Children and Adults. I. Leslie Rubin and Allen C. Crocker. Philadelphia, Pa, Lea & Febiger, 1989.
  2. American Psychiatric Association (Ed.). (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
  3. Bhat, A. N., Landa, R. J., & Galloway, J. C. (2011). Current perspectives on motor functioning in  infants, children, and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Physical Therapy, 91(7), 1116-1129.
  4. Bhat, A. (2021) Motor Impairment Increases in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder as a Function of Social Communication, Cognitive and Functional Impairment, Repetitive Behavior Severity, and Comorbid Diagnoses: A SPARK Study Report. Autism Research.14(1):202-219.
  5. Snethen G, Brusilovskiy E, McCormick BP, Hiremath SV, Salzer MS. The Relationship between Community Participation and Physical Activity among Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses. Ment Health Phys Act. 2021;20:10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100381. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100381. PMID: 34745346; PMCID: PMC8564502.
  6. Cogswell ME, Coil E, Tian LH, Tinker SC, Ryerson AB, Maenner MJ, Rice CE, Peacock G. Health Needs and Use of Services Among Children with Developmental Disabilities—United States, 2014–2018. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2022; 71(12):453–458.