Young people with disabilities: the influence of leisure experiences on family dynamics

ABSTRACT

This article presents the results of a research project on the influence of leisure experiences on the family dynamics of young people with disabilities. Case studies have been performed within five different households, all of which included a teenager living with a disability, in order to understand the importance of leisure experiences in family dynamics. All these teenagers practise a physical activity without the presence of a parent and outside of their home. For the sake of this study, parents and children have taken part in semi-structured interviews. The results show how participation in such activities is associated with the process of family dynamics. A model of influence of leisure on family resilience and a typology of family emerged from the results. This paper supports the importance of sport participation for young people with disabilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Leisure experience
• family dynamics
• disability
• resilience
• young people

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on the contributors

Marie-Michèle Duquette is a master’s degree student in Leisure, Culture and Tourism, University of Québec in Trois-Rivières. Her research themes are disability, leisure and resilience.

Hélène Carbonneau is a professor at the Department of Leisure, Culture and Tourism, University of Québec in Trois-Rivières. Her research themes are leisure, health and social participation.

Colette Jourdan-Ionescu is a professor at the Department of psychology, University of Québec in Trois-Rivières. Her research themes are evaluation of ecosystemic factors of resilience and elaboration of resilience programs.

Notes

1. Some examples of questions asked to the parents: What do you think of your child's activity? How do you feel when your child practises that activity? What is in it for you? How has that activity affected your relationship with your spouse?

2. Some examples of questions asked to the teenagers: What led you to practise that activity? Why does that activity attract you? How has that activity affected your relationship with your family?

3. CLOVES stands for Congenital, Lipomatous, Overgrowth, Vascular Malformations, Epidermal Nevi and Spinal/Skeletal Anomalies and/or Scoliosis.