Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: The primary aim of this study was to describe and analyze the everyday out-of-school life experiences of chronically ill school-age children, and to examine the effects of different ecological contexts on the child's out-of-school life. To accomplish this aim, we focused on the ways in which chronically ill children use their out-of-school time. The use of time is a proxy—an indicator of what matters to children and to their parents. Based on the analysis of data from a pilot study, two general hypotheses were developed: (1) The patterns of chronically ill children's time use depend on the extent to and the manner in which parents and others engage in joint activities with them; and (2) the capacity of the parents to engage in such joint behavior depends on the extent to which there exist external support systems that provide opportunity, assistance, resources, and channels of communication. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data at one point in time from a sample of 365 chronically ill school-age children and their parents. We examined time use in five areas: Children's activities on their own (alone or with friends); children's activities with their parents; children's in-home and out-of-home chores, jobs, and responsibilities; children's participation in organized activities; and television viewing. These were activities that would be meaningful to children from a wide range of backgrounds, and represent different aspects of daily life for a school-age child. Children were selected with a variety of chronic illnesses. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: After School Activities, Chronically Ill, Parents, School-Age Children