Psychosocial barriers and physical activity in children with neuromotor impairments: a scoping review

Abstract

Background

Psychosocial barriers explored in children with neuromotor impairments include self-efficacy (SE), self-perception (SP), and self-competence (SC). SE, SP, and SC can be assessed via several measures. As social cognitive theory suggests, children with higher perceptions of abilities are more successful at altering their behavior and maintaining change in the long term. Therefore, psychosocial barriers should be a consideration for behavioral change.

Objectives

This scoping review presents the outcome measures used to assess psychosocial barriers, physical activity, and function in the pediatric population with neuromotor impairments.

Major Findings

Improving SE, SP, and SC at an earlier stage of life promote a healthy and active lifestyle and provide children with the most opportunities for success, both physically and socially.

Conclusions

The available evidence suggests that enhancing feelings of SE, SP, SC in children with neuromotor impairments have impact on their motivation and willingness to participate in movement interventions.

Keywords:

• Self-efficacy
• neuromotor impairments
• psychosocial barriers
• pediatrics
• physical activity

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Reagan Overeem, BS, MS for her work reviewing and extracting the full text search results for this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by T32 Interdisciplinary Training Program in Muscle Biology, NIH-NIAMS, and Pivot Health Solutions.