2018, Volume 10, Issue 3
Physical fitness, physical activity, psychosocial status and quality of life of adolescent siblings of neurologically disabled children
Elçin Mamak Çelik 1, Arzu Daşkapan2, Zehra Güçhan Topcu3
1Trabzon Yavuz Selim Kemik Hastalıkları ve Rehabilitasyon Hastanesi
2Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Kırıkkale University Faculty of Health Sciences
3Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University
Author for correspondence: Zehra Güçhan Topcu; Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University; email: zehraguchan@hotmail.com
Full text
Abstract
Background: This study aims to compare physical fitness, physical activity, the psychosocial state and the quality of life of adolescents who have disabled siblings with the adolescents who have healthy siblings.
Material and methods: 100 adolescents were involved. The Body Mass Index, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance were measured to determine physical fitness. The FELS Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Depression Scale(CES-DC) and the 87-item Child Health Questionnaire(CHQ) were used to determine the level of their physical activity, depression status and the level of quality of life.
Results: Only Vertical Jumping level among physical fitness parameters was found to be different between the groups (p < 0.05). Leisure Time, Occupation and Total Index points of the FELS of adolescents who had disabled siblings were statistically lower than of adolescents who had healthy siblings (p < 0.05). Depression scores of the study group were statistically higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Except the Family Cohesion subscale, CHQ scores were similar in both groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: A physically disabled child negatively affects the physical activity level and psychology of healthy siblings rather than their physical fitness.
Key words: disabled child, adolescent, physical activity, physical fitness, psychology