(The) effects of behavioral activation and power-assisted device for enhancing mobility and functioning among children with physical disabilities

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objective: Self-produced mobility and daily functioning are significantly limited in children who suffer from physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy that impair motor movements. To address this issue, the current study investigated whether Behavioral Activation (BA), in tandem with the provision of Power-Assisted Device (PAD), would have beneficial effects in mobility, behavioral activation, daily functioning, and emotion regulation of the children with physical disabilities. Methods: Among 123 children with physical disabilities who were between the age of 6 and 13 and using a form of non-powered wheelchair device as a transportation, 40 participants who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized into either 1) PAD-only group or 2) BA+PAD group. The participants were assessed at three different time periods (i.e., pre-treatment, 4-week, and 8-week follow-up). Standardized self-report measures and digital odometers were used to assess distance traveled, levels of behavioral activation, daily functioning and disability, and emotion regulation. Results: Both groups showed an increase in the amount of distance traveled. Although no additional benefits of BA+PAD over PAD-only was found in the amount of distance traveled, emotional schema, and depressive symptoms, BA+PAD group showed a significantly higher level of behavioral activation and a significantly lower level of disability in daily functioning than PAD-only group did. Conclusions: The findings provide support for the provision of BA and PAD for children with physical disabilities.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• I. Introduction 1
• 1. Theoretical Backgrounds 1
• 1-1. Children with Physical Disabilities and Limited Mobility 1
• 1-2. Power-Assisted Device 3
• 1-3. Behavioral Activation 4
• 2. Overview and Hypotheses of the Present Study 9
• II. Method 11
• 1. Procedure 11
• 2. Participants 12
• 3. Measures 16
• 4. Behavioral Activation Intervention 19
• 5. Installment of Power-Assisted Device and Digital Odometer 22
• 6. Data Analysis Plan 23
• III. Results 25
• 1. Treatment Adherence 25
• 2. Distance Traveled with Wheelchair 25
• 3. Levels of Behavioral Activation 26
• 4. Increased Number of Activities During Behavioral Activation 29
• 5. Daily Functioning and Disability 30
• 6. Emotion Regulations 32
• 7. Relationship Among the Changes in Outcome Measures 34
• IV. Discussion 35
• Reference 41
• Supplementary Material 1 54
• Supplementary Material 2 55