Relationship Between Change in Participation and Later Mental Health Problems in Children

Background: Participation in everyday activities is beneficial for mental health. However, little is known about the extent to which changes in children’s participation are associated with later mental health. Objectives: To investigate the association between changes in the frequency and involvement in home, school, and community activities and subsequent mental health problems in children. Methodology: We recruited 242 school-aged children. Their parents completed the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth twice, and after 2 years, they completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: After controlling for demographic factors, hierarchical regression analysis revealed that reductions in children’s involvement in home and community activities were significantly associated with elevated levels of externalizing and internalizing problems. Furthermore, an increase in children’s involvement in school activities showed significant relationships with better mental health outcomes. Conclusion: These findings inform participation-based interventions for occupational therapists aimed at mitigating children’s future mental health problems.