09 Body image in youth and adolescents with CP living in Ontario

Abstract Background Body image research in young people with physical disabilities like cerebral palsy (CP) has received very little attention. Body image is a central theme in adolescence, and one may hypothesize that being a youth with CP would weigh particularly heavily on a child’s self-perception. Objectives The goal of this pilot project is to understand the perspectives of children and adolescents with CP (of all communication abilities and GMFCS levels) to learn about their perspective on body image. Design/Methods Our study includes quantitative data (using the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire) of quality of life (QOL) measures, along with qualitative interview data summarized with thematic analysis. Our data is augmented with input from siblings (without CP) of our primary participants to represent a control group in the same family unit. Results Twelve youths with CP (7 male, 5 female) filled out questionnaires and sat for an interview. The portion of the questionnaire that was most valuable for our interpretation focused on self-perception, with a higher score representing a more positive body image. The average score among our participants with CP was 17.93 / 25 (SD 4.73), and for those without CP; 18.62 / 25 (SD 5.45). Other differences included higher scores for males compared to females, and higher scores for those ≤13yo compared to 14-18yo. Interviews with participants uncovered themes of functional capability, the wish to reduce burden on family members, pride in the CP identity, and mixed desirability of media representation. Conclusion Within our study bounds, there is greater difference between age groups and genders than there is between those with CP and not. Interviews reveal the recurring theme of functional capacity connected to positive self-image, which may be considered justification for interventions. This data provides positive insight from youth with CP, and simultaneously could relieve the concerns of caregivers who may feel that a child with CP is especially vulnerable to negative self-image.