Revista Paulista de Pediatria (Nov 2022)

Impact of COVID-19 on physical and mental functioning in adolescents with disabilities in a sports nongovernmental organization

  • Moisés de Freitas Laurentino,
  • Livia Lindoso,
  • Camilla Astley,
  • Sofia Simão Martins Lavorato,
  • Bianca Pires Ihara,
  • Dandara Carvalho Casado de Lima,
  • Bruno Gualano,
  • Lígia Bruni Queiroz,
  • Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira,
  • Guilherme Vanoni Polanczyk,
  • Olavo Pires de Camargo,
  • Clovis Artur Silva,
  • Patricia Moreno Grangeiro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2021334
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 41

Abstract

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Abstract Objective: This study aimed to assess physical and mental health, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) parameters in adolescents with physical disabilities enrolled in a sports nongovernmental organization (NGO) versus adolescents without disabilities during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 adolescents with disabilities and 86 adolescents without disabilities who responded to an online questionnaire with sociodemographic data and self-rated healthcare routine information during the COVID-19 quarantine. Validated self-report versions of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) were also applied. Results: The median of emotional [4 (0–10) vs. 5 (0–10), p=0.018] and prosocial [7 (0–10) vs. 9 (3–10), p=0.006] problems was lower in adolescents with disabilities versus adolescents without disabilities. Adolescents with disabilities had significantly lower global function [68 (21–99) vs. 94 (67–100), p<0.001] and higher happiness scores in the PODCI scale [90 (65–100) vs. 80 (0–100), p=0.016] compared to controls. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that physical activity/week (OR=1.03; 95%CI 1.01–1.05, p=0.002) was higher in adolescents with disabilities compared to adolescents without disabilities. However, housework activities (OR=0.14; 95%CI 0.04–0.43, p=0.001) and screen time ≥3 h/day (OR=0.09; 95%CI 0.02–0.38, p=0.001) were lower in adolescents with disabilities compared to adolescents without disabilities. Conclusion: Adolescents with disabilities attending a sports NGO were not at higher risk of adverse health-related indicators; despite showing reduced physical function, they reported more physical activity, higher happiness, and less screen time compared to adolescents without disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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