Disability-Specific Associations with Child Health and Functioning

Ko Ling Chan, Camilla K. M. Lo, Frederick K. Ho and Patrick Ip
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Ko Ling Chan: Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Camilla K. M. Lo: Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Frederick K. Ho: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Patrick Ip: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-9

Abstract: This study examined the health profile of children with different types of disabilities and explored the disability-specific associations with various types of health and functioning using a large nonclinical sample of children. A cross-sectional school survey was conducted during 2016 and 2017. A total of 4114 children (aged 6–18 years) receiving primary or secondary education, or their proxy, in Hong Kong participated in the study. Disabilities were categorized as (a) physical disabilities; (b) learning and developmental disabilities; (c) intellectual disabilities; (d) internalizing disorders or mental illness; and (e) autism spectrum disorder. Health-related quality of life (QoL), sleep-related QoL, activities of daily living (ADL), emotional functioning, and social functioning were assessed and compared between children with disabilities and those without. The results showed that children with disabilities showed poorer physical functioning, health-related QoL, and emotional and social functioning than their counterparts without disabilities. Disability-specific associations with health were found: (a) physical disabilities and intellectual disabilities were associated with greater difficulties in ADL; (b) language impairment and Attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were negatively associated with sleep-related QoL; (c) all types of disabilities but hearing impairment were negatively associated with health-related QoL (HRQoL); and (d) language impairment, ADHD, internalizing disorder, as well as autism spectrum disorder were associated with greater abnormal behavioral difficulties. The findings warrant the development of tailor-made intervention programs and give insights to effective resource allocation for the children in need.

Keywords: child physical disabilities; learning and developmental disabilities; intellectual disabilities; internalizing disorders; autism spectrum disorder; health-related quality of life; child health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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