Following 4 months of social distancing during COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil did not change aspects of functioning in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: A longitudinal study

Author(s)

Brugnaro, Beatriz Helena ; Fernandes, Gesica ; Vieira, Fabiana Nascimento ; Pavao, Silvia Leticia ; Rocha, Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES; v. N/A, p. 16-pg., 2023-06-16.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its demands of social distancing have created challenges in the lives of children/adolescents with developmental disabilities and their families, which would change aspects of children's functioning. The objetive of this study was to evaluate changes in some components of functioning of children/adolescents with disabilities following 4 months of social distancing during a period of high contamination rate in the year 2020 in Brazil. Participated 81 mothers of children/adolescents with disabilities, 3-17 years, most of them (80%) diagnosed with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder. Remote assessments of functioning' aspects including IPAQ, YC-PEM/ PEM-C, Social Support Scale and PedsQL V.4.0. Wilcoxon tests compared the measures, with significance level <0.05. No significant changes in participant's functioning were identified. Social adjustments required to facing the pandemic during two points in time in the midst of the pandemic did not change the evaluated aspects of functioning in our sample of Brazilian. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/05685-5 - Impact of environmental factors on participation at home of children with Down Syndrome
• Grantee: Gesica Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 19/13716-0 - Determinants of participation in home, at school and at community settings of children and adolescents with Down Syndrome
• Grantee: Beatriz Helena Brugnaro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 21/15016-6 - Community support in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic & elaboration, translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the version 2.0 of the measure of processes of care (MPOC) for Brazilian Portuguese
• Grantee: Beatriz Helena Brugnaro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 19/13570-6 - Characterization of the Activity and Participation of children and adolescents with Down Syndrome: influence of biopsychosocial factors
• Grantee: Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants