Development of the Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation for People With Physical Disabilities

Jeffrey G Caron; Kathleen A Martin Ginis; Meredith Rocchi; Shane N Sweet

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2018.08.183

Development of the Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation for People With Physical Disabilities

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Jan;100(1):67-77.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.08.183. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Authors

Jeffrey G Caron¹, Kathleen A Martin Ginis², Meredith Rocchi³, Shane N Sweet⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
² Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
³ Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: shane.sweet@mcgill.ca.

PMID: 30268805
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.08.183

Abstract

Objectives: To create a parsimonious, psychometrically sound measure of experiential aspects of participation (MeEAP) for people with physical disabilities.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Online survey.

Participants: Respondents were a purposive sample of adults (N=228, n=118 female, mean age=49.66±14.71, range=19-83). Each respondent indicated having a physical disability and participating in employment, mobility, sport, and/or exercise life domains.

Interventions: None.

Main outcome measures: The MeEAP was designed to be conceptually aligned with 6 experiential aspects of participation among people with physical disabilities: autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning.¹ The measure was also designed to be relevant across employment, mobility, sport, and exercise life domains. Higher scores on MeEAP items were hypothesized to be associated with higher levels of life satisfaction.

Results: The final 12-item scale (2 items per subscale) had strong model fit (Satorra-Bentler scaled χ²₍₃₉₎=58.26, P<.001, comparative fit index=.98, Tucker-Lewis index=.96, root mean square error of approximation=.05, standardized root mean square residual=.03) and good reliability and validity estimates. Results of regression analyses indicated that the MeEAP explained 10%-29% of the variance in life satisfaction.

Conclusions: The MeEAP is the first measure to capture all 6 experiential aspects of participation for individuals with physical disabilities across 4 major life domains. The MeEAP can be used as an outcome measure or as a mediator to help explain broader outcomes (eg, life satisfaction). The MeEAP could also be used for program evaluation to provide insights about the types of interventions needed to promote full participation.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Disabled persons; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Surveys and questionnaires.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living / psychology*
Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disability Evaluation
Disabled Persons / psychology*
Employment / psychology*
Exercise / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Psychometrics
Regression Analysis
Reproducibility of Results
Social Participation / psychology
Sports / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires