Differential Associations Between Device-Assessed and Parent-Reported Physical Activity With Indicators of Mental Health in Children and Youth With Disabilities

Purpose: We examined associations between device-assessed and parent-reported physical activity with mental health indicators among children and youth with disabilities.

Method: Physical activity and mental health data were collected from a larger national surveillance study of physical activity in children and youth with disabilities in Canada. A total of 122 children and youth with disabilities (mean age = 10 y; 80% boys, 57% with developmental disability) wore a Fitbit for 28 days to measure their daily steps. Parents reported the frequency and duration of their child's leisure-time physical activity during the previous 7 days. Parents also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (ie, total difficulties score, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior) as a measure of mental health symptoms.

Results: Significant relationships were observed between parent-reported physical activity and total difficulties as well as internalizing problems but not externalizing problems. Nonsignificant relationships were observed between median daily step counts and mental health indicators.

Conclusion: Differential relationships between physical activity and mental health indicators may exist among children and youth with disabilities depending on how physical activity is operationalized (ie, steps vs active minutes) and measured (ie, proxy report vs device assessed). Interventionists seeking to improve mental health outcomes among children and youth with disabilities through physical activity promotion should consider these findings when deciding upon methods to assess physical activity behaviors.