Participation in leisure activities: Differences between children with and without physical disabilities

The aim of the current study was to compare varied dimensions of participation in leisure activities among school-aged children ages 10-16 with and without disabilities. The Children Leisure Activity Scale (CLASS) was administrated to 294 children, 81 with and 213 without physical disability. Two-way MANCOVA revealed significant differences between the frequency of participation in leisure activities of the study groups: an effect of disability F(4,265 = 239.57; p < 0.001, eta(2) = 0.78); an effect of gender F(4,265 = 3.35; p < 0.01, eta(2) = 0.05); and an interaction effect between gender and disability F(4,265 = 5.23; p < 0.001, eta(2) = 0.64). Children with disabilities, and mostly girls, were found at risk to participate in a narrower variety of activities that involved fewer social interactions. Using linear regressions for each group two different models were identified. Using the CLASS the study contributes evidence-based data regarding children at risk for leisure participation. In addition, the research further established the discriminate validity of the CLASS. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.