Clinicians should determine both parent and young person commitment to a physical activity before enrolment. Lack of commitment can act as a barrier to physical activity and a more appropriate intervention could focus on increasing awareness of the benefits of being active, drawing on a Stages of Change based model of service delivery. Implications for rehabilitation Rehabilitation professionals seeking to increase physical activity participation for young people with physical disability should discuss readiness and motivation to change prior to any activity/sports referral. Different behaviour change processes are required for young people and for their parents and both are important to achieve physical activity participation. Regular monitoring is important to identify on-going physical and psychological barriers to participation, even for those who were already active. Clinicians should be aware that teenagers may be more ready to be active as they develop greater independence and should raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity.

This study examined the relationship between maternal mental health problems and both caregiving time and experience of time pressure for 216 mothers of children with autism. Data describing caregiving time was obtained using 24-h time-diaries. Standard questionnaires were used to assess time pressure, social support, children's emotional and behavioural problems, and maternal mental health problems. After adjusting for the effect of children's age, maternal social support, and children's behaviour problems, time pressure but not hours of caregiving, had a significant positive relationship with maternal mental health problems. Findings suggest that the quality of home-based care for children with autism may be adversely affected if time pressure experienced by caregivers compromises their mental health and well being.

It is important to support mothers to find ways of reducing the real and perceived impact of caregiving. This might include identifying sources of 'respite' support for caregivers, training in stress and time management, and appropriate treatment of mental health problems.

No abstract

ABBREVIATIONS MVPAModerate to vigorous physical activity SES Socio-economic status AIM This study aimed to investigate fatigue, and its correlates, in children and adolescents with physical disabilities.METHOD Sixty-five young people aged 8 to 17 years (35 males, 30 females; mean age 13y 2mo, SD 2y 8mo) with mild to moderate physical disabilities (Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire levels 7-10) were recruited. Self-reported fatigue was measured using the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Physical activity was measured using 7-day hipworn accelerometer. Associations between fatigue, physical activity, and socio-demographic characteristics were examined using analysis of covariance, with significance (a) set at 0.05.Results were compared with normative data from other paediatric populations.