A Study on the Level of Participation and Influencing Factors of School-aged Children and Adolescents with Disabilities

Abstract

Aim: To indentify the participation level of school- aged disabled children and adolescents in the Republic of
Korea and investigate the factors influencing their participation.
Methods: Participants were 72 disabled children and adolescents aged 8-19, living in the community. Openended
questionnaires, organized by researchers, were used to investigate personal factors. The Family
Assessment Device and the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (Korean version) were used to evaluate
family functions and the level of participation and environmental factors, respectively. Data analysis included
correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis through the SPSS Version 21.0.
Results: The home-participation regression model included family function and educational environment as
significant influence factors. The community-participation regression model included family function and the
educational environment as significant influence factors. The school-participation regression model included
family function while the family and community activities regression model included the educational
environment and family function as significant influence factors.
Conclusion: This study means that Korea provided basic data that can be used in clinical sites for occupational
therapy. Therefore, the results of this study are expected to provide useful data for clinical and research
purposes in Korean occupational therapy.