Life experiences of young adults who have coordination difficulties.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the impact of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) during adolescence and young adulthood.


OBJECTIVE
This study explored the lived experiences of a nonclinical sample of nine university students who reported having significant coordination difficulties.


METHODS
A phenomenological approach was used that included two in-depth interviews asking participants to recall retrospectively their experiences throughout adolescence. Transcripts were coded to identify themes, and member-checking supported the credibility of findings.


RESULTS
Strong pathways of resilience were found with participants who employed cognitive and behavioural strategies to manage their motor differences. Key themes emerged related to managing coordination differences including avoidance/withdrawal/adaptation, seeking compatible activities, using humour, and persevering. As adolescents matured, changing social contexts affected their self-efficacy and others' perceptions of them.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study challenge occupational therapists to move beyond impairment-based interventions to ecological interventions that facilitate social and community participation.
Missiuna
Cheryl
C
School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7. missiuna@mcmaster.ca
Moll
Sandra
S
King
Gillian
G
Stewart
Debra
D
Macdonald
Kathryn
K
D000328:Adult; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology