Physical activity and the occupations of children: Perspectives of parents and children

There is concern that children’s health is being compromised by a decline in physical activity occurring as a result of the changing nature of the occupations of childhood. This article reports the findings of in-depth interviews conducted with six children and their parents when the children were between 7 and 8 years and then again when they were between 9 and 10 years. This longitudinal perspective highlighted features associated with children remaining engaged in physical occupations. Factors found to contribute to continued involvement in exercise and sports were: the initial introduction to the activity being pleasurable; same-sex parents or older siblings being directly involved; and the skills required by the occupations being commensurate with children’s developmental level. These findings help inform occupational scientists about the nature of recreational and leisure occupations, and how they are introduced and framed within the context of children’s occupational roles.

Efficient developmental mis-targeting by the sporamin NTPP vacuolar signal to plastids in young leaves of sugarcane and Arabidopsis

Plant vacuoles are multi-functional, developmentally varied and can occupy up to 90% of plant cells. The N-terminal propeptide (NTPP) of sweet potato sporamin and the C-terminal propeptide (CTPP) of tobacco chitinase have been developed as models to target some heterologous proteins to vacuoles but so far tested on only a few plant species, vacuole types and payload proteins. Most studies have focused on lytic and protein-storage vacuoles, which may differ substantially from the sugar-storage vacuoles in crops like sugarcane. Our results extend the evidence that NTPP of sporamin can direct heterologous proteins to vacuoles in diverse plant species and indicate that sugarcane sucrose-storage vacuoles (like the lytic vacuoles in other plant species) are hostile to heterologous proteins. A low level of cytosolic NTPP-GFP (green fluorescent protein) was detectable in most cell types in sugarcane and Arabidopsis, but only Arabidopsis mature leaf mesophyll cells accumulated NTPP-GFP to detectable levels in vacuoles. Unexpectedly, efficient developmental mis-trafficking of NTPP-GFP to chloroplasts was found in young leaf mesophyll cells of both species. Vacuolar targeting by tobacco chitinase CTPP was inefficient in sugarcane, leaving substantial cytoplasmic activity of rat lysosomal beta-glucuronidase (GUS) [ER (endoplasmic reticulum)-RGUS-CTPP]. Sporamin NTPP is a promising targeting signal for studies of vacuolar function and for metabolic engineering. Such applications must take account of the efficient developmental mis-targeting by the signal and the instability of most introduced proteins, even in storage vacuoles.

The clinical effectiveness of a multisensory therapy on clients with developmental disability

Many clients in Hong Kong with developmental disabilities stay in mental hospitals because of mental disorders and behavioural problems. There is a need to identify strategies that promote psychological well-being and reduce problem behaviours in this group of clients. This study evaluates the impact of multisensory therapy on participants’ emotional state, level of relaxation, challenging behaviour, stereotypic self-stimulating behaviour (SSB) and adaptive behaviour (AB). Using an experimental design, 89 participants were recruited from a developmental disability unit in a hospital in Hong Kong and randomly assigned to either an experimental (n = 48) or a control group (n = 41). Multisensory therapy sessions (n = 36) were conducted with experimental group and activity sessions (n = 36) were conducted with controls for 12 weeks. Multisensory therapy promoted participants’ positive emotions and relaxation. However, there was no evidence that multisensory therapy was superior to activity therapy in reducing aggressive behaviour and stereotypic self-stimulating behaviour or promoting adaptive behaviour. The key variables that influence clients’ behaviours in the multisensory therapy may be related to the relationship with the carer, constant environment, relaxation and freedom from demands rather than sensory input. Multisensory therapy could be used to provide leisure and promote psychological well-being, rather than for reducing problem behaviour.

Refining individualized consideration: Distinguishing developmental leadership and supportive leadership

This study explores the theoretical and empirical distinction between developmental leadership and supportive leadership, which are currently encompassed in a single sub dimension of transformational leadership, individualized consideration. Items were selected to assess these constructs, and hypotheses regarding the differential effects of developmental and supportive leadership were proposed. Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the proposed distinction between developmental and supportive leadership, although these leadership factors were very strongly associated. Structural equation modelling and multi-level modelling results indicated that both developmental leadership and supportive leadership displayed unique relationships with theoretically selected outcome measures. Developmental leadership displayed significantly stronger relationships with job satisfaction, career certainty, affective commitment to the organization and role breadth self-efficacy than did supportive leadership. Results provide initial evidence in support of the discriminant validity of these two types of leadership. Discussion focuses on the need to further examine the construct of developmental leadership.

Predictors of care-giver stress in families of preschool-aged children with developmental disabilities

Background This study examined the predictors, mediators and moderators of parent stress in families of preschool-aged children with developmental disability. Method One hundred and five mothers of preschool-aged children with developmental disability completed assessment measures addressing the key variables. Results Analyses demonstrated that the difficulty parents experienced in completing specific caregiving tasks, behaviour problems during these caregiving tasks, and level of child disability, respectively, were significant predictors of level of parent stress. In addition, parents’ cognitive appraisal of care-giving responsibilities had a mediating effect on the relationship between the child’s level of disability and parent stress. Mothers’ level of social support had a moderating effect on the relationship between key independent variables and level of parent stress. Conclusions Difficulty of care-giving tasks, difficult child behaviour during care-giving tasks, and level of child disability are the primary factors which contribute to parent stress. Implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are outlined.

The functional impact of developmental co-ordination disorder during adolescence and early adult life

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of the functional impact that coordination problems have during adolescence and early adult life. In particular, this study aimed to investigate the impact coordination deficits have on day-to-day functioning, activity levels, self-concept with respect to coordination, leisure pursuits, occupational types, accidents and injuries, as well as experiences learning to drive. RELEVANCE: This study may enable clinicians to identify at risk situations, such that appropriate prevention and targeting of treatment can occur. SUBJECTS: The participants involved in this study comprised two groups; 40 subjects previously diagnosed with DCD, and their matched controls. METHODS: Participants were initially contacted by mail for their consent to the study. Consenting participants were then contacted via telephone, and interviewed. ANALYSES: Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Chi squared analysis and Mann Whitney U test was also used to compare groups. RESULTS: During both age periods, the number of DCD subjects participating in sport was significantly less than the number of controls. Although in the 12-14 years age category, the two groups displayed similar results for the type of sport chosen, the 18 – 20 years age group, showed significant differences, with the number of DCD subjects participating in High level coordination activities, being significantly less than controls. Self-perception with respect to coordination was also significantly different amongst groups with more DCD subjects, having perceived themselves as being clumsy. Similarly, a significantly greater number of DCD subjects admitted to tripping over themselves regularly. Some differences have also been noted in the experiences of subjects learning to drive. First, the number of DCD subjects, who had difficulties learning to drive was significantly greater than controls. Second, a much greater number of Control subjects, compared to DCD subjects were successful in obtaining drivers license. Finally, also of interest is the 58% of DCD subjects who have experienced an accident whilst driving, compared to the 35% of controls. The last result of this study was that whilst there was no significant difference between groups, in the number of broken bones, dislocated joints, sprain, burns, stitches, or other significant injuries, the number of control subjects suffering muscle strains was significantly greater than the number of DCD subjects. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that DCD has many implications on day-to-day functioning, both in adolescence and early adulthood. Findings have shown despite the significant sensory-motor deficits displayed by DCD subjects, the impact that this has on day-to-day functioning may be reduced by lifestyle modification.