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Background: The associations between physical activity and various social determinants with quality of life (QoL) among teenagers with cerebral palsy (CP) are inconclusive.

Objective: To explore associations between perceived QoL among teenagers with CP in Sweden and participation in physical leisure activity and physical education in school, as well as sex, gross motor function, pain and bother, caregivers’ birth country and socioeconomic status.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with teenagers who have CP, aged 15–18 years. The survey, including the assessment form Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life-teenager (CP QoL-teen), was sent to all youths in the national patient registry held by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (n = 900). Survey data was complemented with data from other national health registries containing information on demographics, physical leisure activity, physical education, and gross motor function. Multivariable linear- and quantile regression analyses were performed.

Results: The survey was answered by 149 participants. Physical leisure activity was positively associated with the QoL-domain Communication and physical health. Gross motor function was associated with domains referring to physical function and participation; more severe motor difficulties indicated lower QoL. Pain was negatively associated with all QoL domains. Low caregiver educational levels were associated with higher social well-being domain.

Conclusion: Minimizing pain and facilitating physical activity may enhance QoL for teenagers who have CP. To improve participation for teenagers with severe disabilities, with non-Nordic caregivers, and caregivers without postgraduate education, targeted measures to facilitate participation are needed.

This scoping review explores what is currently understood about how masculinity norms interplay with loneliness and social connectedness among men in a Western context. Human beings inherently need social connections, and this review particularly addresses how traditional masculinity norms—emphasizing independence, emotional stoicism, and pain endurance—can increase vulnerability to loneliness and insufficient social connections. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and systematically assessed the literature published between September 2013 and September 2023. Initial literature searches were conducted using multiple databases, including EBSCO and PubMed. Of the 1,730 articles identified, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were quality assessed. Results show that men often formed social connections through productive activities. Still, these connections were restricted by conflicting masculine ideals such as self-reliance, which could be prioritized over social and emotional support. Masculine bonds were often formed and strengthened through collectively rejecting diversity. Nevertheless, there were some narratives where participants attempted to redefine masculinity to access permission to care and connect. This review highlights the urgent need for cultural and societal reevaluation of gender norms to support men’s social connectedness. This shift could reduce stigma around emotional vulnerability and in turn men’s opportunities for health and well-being.

Background & aim: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common reason for movement difficulties among children and youth in Sweden. Physiotherapy is usually introduced early in order to develop mobility and prevent further impairment, which in turn facilitates activity and participation. Physiotherapy is closely connected with physical activity, both as a goal and a mean, and physical activity contributes to aspects of health, in turn associated with quality of life (QoL). Physical education in school as well as physical leisure activity are important parts of the total physical activity participation among children and youth. Participation in physical leisure activity and physical education, as well as access to physiotherapeutic interventions, is insufficiently explored from an equity perspective regarding function, gender and ethnicity or birth country. The overall aim of the current thesis is to explore participation in physiotherapeutic interventions, physical leisure activity and physical education, as well as analyze the association between physical activity and quality of life, from an equity perspective for children and adolescents with CP in Sweden.

Methods: The four papers that comprise this thesis are based upon three empirical studies: a National cross-sectional registry study (Papers I and II), based on the National Quality Registry Cerebral Palsy Follow-up Program (CPUP); an interview study with a qualitative approach (Paper III); and a national QoL survey complemented with registry data (IV). Quantitative data were analyzed with multivariable logistic-, linear- or quantile regressions. For the interview study, qualitative content analysis was used.

Results: The number of participants in the registry studies were 2855 aged 0-18 years (Paper I) and 1935 aged 6-18 years (Paper II). The interview study (Paper III) included 11 participants aged 15-18 years, and the survey study (Paper IV) 149 participants, aged 15-18 years. Being born in Sweden entailed higher odds for participating in physiotherapy, physical leisure activity, physical education and physiotherapy, respectively, compared to those born outside Sweden (Paper I) or outside Europe (Paper II). More severe gross motor function difficulties were positively associated with higher odds of receiving physiotherapy, and negatively associated with physical activity participation (Paper II). Participants in the interviews report several examples of exclusion, struggles and (in-) sufficient support and inclusion through the categories ‘Exclusion and lack of support’, ‘Resistance, struggle and guilt’, and ‘Empowerment and support’. Gender as a vector in physical activity is mainly seen through the qualitative results, referring to physical education (Paper III). Frequent participation in physical leisure activity was associated with the domain Communication and physical health. Domains of QoL that referred to participation or function were negatively associated with having greater motor function difficulties, although not significantly associated with domains of social- and school wellbeing. Pain and bother is negatively associated with all five domains of QoL. Low educational level among the caregivers was associated with higher QoL-scores in the domain of social well-being (Paper IV).

Discussion & Conclusions: The results that reveals differences regarding birth country indicates the relevance to raise awareness about possible inequity in participation in physical leisure activity, physical education, and physiotherapy for children and youth who have CP, as a prerequisite for improvement. Physiotherapists, school, and leisure sport leaders, as well as their organizations, need to be attentive to norms and bias in order to prevent inequity and discrimination due to for example birth country, gender or function, and provide support, which is included in the compensatory assignment of the schools and health care. This is emphasized by the experiences of exclusion expressed by participating youth with CP. Frequent physical activity participation is in part associated with higher QoL while Pain and bother is negatively associated with QoL, as is partly gross motor function difficulties. Prevention and treatment of pain and facilitation of physical activity is therefore important for children and youth with CP. Future studies should carefully consider targeting youth with a non-Nordic birth country and with large gross motor function difficulties or associated difficulties to widen knowledge about equity in physical activity- and physiotherapy participation, and QoL.

Aim: To examine the extent to which sex, country of birth, and functional aspects influence participation in physical education and physical leisure activity among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Sweden.

Methods: This national cross-sectional registry study included children with CP aged 6 to 18 years who participated in the Swedish national quality registry, the Cerebral Palsy Follow-up Program, CPUP, in 2015. Comparisons and associations between sex, country of birth, and functional aspects and physical leisure/physical education were examined using chi-squared and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: The study included 1935 children. Of them, 1625 (87%) reported participating in physical education and 989 (53%) reported participating in physical leisure activity. Children born in Sweden had higher odds of participating in physical education (OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.20-3.28) and physical leisure activity (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.70-3.72) compared with children born outside Europe. Greater impairment of gross motor function was associated with lower participation levels. Boys participated slightly more frequently in leisure activities than girls.

Conclusion: Enhancing social inclusion with regard to disability, birth country, and sex are important and achievable goals for policymakers and practitioners for promoting participation in physical activity for children and adolescents with CP.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of physiotherapeutic interventions for children with Cerebral Palsy in Sweden from an equity perspective, considering sex, country of birth and geographical region.

Method: This national cross‐sectional registry study includes children with Cerebral Palsy aged 0‐18 years who participated in 2015 in the Swedish national quality registry, the Cerebral Palsy follow‐up programme, CPUP. Comparisons and associations between physiotherapeutic interventions and sex, country of birth and geographical regions were conducted using chi‐square and logistic regression analysis, controlling for cognitive level, level of motor function, age group and dominating symptom.

Results: Of the 2855 participants, 2201 (79%) had received physiotherapy. Children born in Sweden had 1.60 times higher odds (95% CI 1.10‐2.33) of receiving physiotherapy compared with children born in foreign countries. Distribution of physiotherapeutic interventions differed significantly between geographical regions. No associations between sex and physiotherapeutic interventions were observed.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate inequity in care in Sweden towards children with Cerebral Palsy born in other counties. Further, physiotherapeutic interventions were not equally distributed in different geographical regions of Sweden. Knowledge of inequity is crucial in order to address the problem.

Background: Young people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities, report worse health than others. This may be because of the disability, lower levels of physical activity, and discrimination. For children with cerebral palsy, access to physiotherapy and physical activity is a crucial prerequisite for good health and function. To date, there is limited knowledge regarding potential gender bias and inequity in habilitation services.

Objectives: To map how physiotherapeutic interventions (PTI), physical leisure activity, and physical education are allocated for children with cerebral palsy regarding sex, age, level of gross motor function, and county council affiliation. This was done from a gender and equity perspective.

Methods: A register study using data from the Cerebral Palsy follow-Up Program (CPUP). Data included 313 children ≤18 years with cerebral palsy from the five northern counties in Sweden during 2013. Motor impairment of the children was classified according to the expanded and revised Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).

Results: In three county councils, boys received more physiotherapy interventions and received them more frequently than girls did. Differences between county councils were seen for frequency and reasons for physiotherapy interventions (p < 0.001). The physiotherapist was involved more often with children who had lower motor function and with children who had low physical leisure activity. Children with lower motor function level participated in physical leisure activity less often than children with less motor impairment (p < 0.001). Boys participated more frequently in physical education than did girls (p = 0.028).

Conclusion: Gender and county council affiliation affect the distribution of physiotherapy interventions for children with cerebral palsy, and there are associations between gender and physical activity. Thus, the intervention is not always determined by the needs of the child or the degree of impairment. A gender-bias is indicated. Further studies are needed to ensure fair interventions.