Date of Award

Spring 5-2014

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Sara Jordan

Advisor Department

Psychology

Abstract

The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between parental overprotection/overindulgence, assistive technology utilization, and independence with routines among children with physical disabilities. Participants included 26 primary caregivers of children with physical disabilities age 6 to 12 (M = 8.65, SD = 2.00). Data regarding demographic information, parenting practices, the child’s gross motor functioning, assistive technology (AT) use, independence with routines, and frequency of routines were obtained from the primary caregiver via an online survey. While no significant relationships between the variables of interest were observed after controlling for the child’s age, gross motor functioning, and mental impairment, a moderately significant inverse relationship between parental overprotection and child independence with routines was observed, which may reach significance with a larger sample. Additionally, two new robust findings were discovered. A marginally significant negative correlation between frequency of routines and gross motor functioning was observed in addition to a significant positive correlation between frequency of routines and independence with routines. Finally, the study also contributed to the development of two new scales, the CRQ Independence scale and the Assistive Technology Use Scale. Overall, this study suggests that children with physical disabilities may benefit from more frequent AT use to assist in routine completion; they may also benefit from more frequent routines to assist in increased efficiency with routines, promoting independence.

Comments

Honors College Award: Top Thesis

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