title: Physical activity predicts quality of life and happiness in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between physical activity, health-related quality of life and happiness in young people with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 70 young people with cerebral palsy (45 males, 25 females; mean age 13 years 11 months, SD 2 years 0 month) took part in a cross-sectional, descriptive postal survey assessing physical activity (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents), functional ability (Gross Motor Function Classification System), quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0) and happiness (single Likert-scale item). Relationships between physical activity, quality of life and happiness were examined using backward stepwise linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity significantly predicted physical quality of life (R(2 )= 0.64, β = 6.12, p = 0.02), social quality of life (R(2 )= 0.28, β = 9.27, p < 0.01) and happiness (R(2 )= 0.08, β = 0.9, p = 0.04). Physical activity was not associated with emotional or school quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found a positive association between physical activity, social and physical quality of life, and happiness in young people with cerebral palsy. Findings underscore the potential benefits of physical activity for the wellbeing of young people with cerebral palsy, in addition to its well-recognised physical and health benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity is a key predictor of quality of life and happiness in young people with cerebral palsy. Physical activity is widely recognised as having physical health benefits for young people with cerebral palsy; however, this study also highlights that it may have important benefits for wellbeing, quality of life and happiness. This emphasises the need for clinical services and intervention studies aimed specifically at increasing physical activity amongst children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: a Health and Use of Time Group, University of South Australia , Adelaide , Australia and.
authors.forename: Carol Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: b Novita Children's Services, Regency Park , Adelaide , Australia.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toohey
authors.affiliation: a Health and Use of Time Group, University of South Australia , Adelaide , Australia and.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000066768:Rehabilitation Research; D066252:Sociological Factors
keywords: Adolescent; cerebral palsy; child; happiness; quality of life