The impact of COVID-19 on the lifestyles of adolescents with cerebral palsy in the Southeast United States

• Published in: Disability and health journal Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 101263
• Main Authors: Lai, Byron, Wen, Huacong, Sinha, Tanvee, Davis, Drew, Swanson-Kimani, Erin, Wozow, Cynthia, Young, Raven, Powell, Danielle, Rimmer, James H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-04-2022
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brief Report; Cerebral Palsy - complications; Child; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental disability; Disability; Disabled Persons; Exercise; Health; Humans; Life Style; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States - epidemiology; Young Adult; United States; COVID-19; Disability; Exercise; Health; Developmental disability; GLTEQ; U.S; GMFCS; CP
• ISSN: 1936-6574; 1876-7583
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101263

The impact of COVID-19 on adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families is underinvestigated, particularly in the Southeastern United States.
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle activities, general and mental health, and basic needs among a cohort of adolescents with CP in the Southeast U.S. The second purpose was to identify key factors that impacted their lifestyles.
This was a cross-sectional survey of adolescents with CP (aged 10–19 years) who completed a child-modified version of the Coronavirus Disability Survey. Health and behavior items were associated with the perceived lifestyle impact of COVID-19.
A total of 101 respondents completed the survey (mean age: 14 ± 2 years). Respondents reported minimal to no change in general health since the COVID-19 outbreak. Basic needs were met for most families. Nearly all participants (94.1%) reported a mental health concern that resulted from COVID-19: 32.7% felt down or depressed; 47.5% felt little pleasure in doing things; and 64.4% felt isolated. Moreover, 74.3% reported decreased socialization, 51.5% reported reduced exercise participation, and 43.6% reported difficulties in obtaining medical care. Most participants (90.1%) were negatively affected by COVID-19, and key associated factors were reduced interactions with friends and family (p = 0.001), exercise participation (p = 0.016), interest in doing things (p = 0.005), worsened depression (p = 0.015), increased isolation from others (p = 0.02) and at home (p = 0.006), technological communication (p = 0.00), and virus exposure (p = 0.008).
Study findings highlight problem areas that warrant urgent intervention among adolescents with CP located within the Southeast U.S.