title: Moderating effect of the environment in the relationship between mobility and school participation in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The literature demonstrates that the social participation of children with disabilities is influenced by both their functional skills repertoire and environmental factors. However, it is not yet known whether the effect of functional limitations on social participation is minimized or enhanced by the environmental facilitators and barriers. This study aimed to test this hypothesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the moderating effect of environmental factors in the relationship between mobility and school participation of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 102 elementary school children and adolescents with CP, aged 6 to 17 years, classified as levels I, II, and III according to the Gross Motor Classification System, along with their parents or caregivers and teachers. School participation and parents' perceptions of barriers were evaluated using the School Function Assessment and the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regression model failed to reveal a moderating effect of environmental factors in the relationship between mobility and school participation. While mobility was a strong predictor of participation, environmental factors demonstrated a weak predictive effect on the latter. The CHIEF subscale school/work showed the factors which were greatest barrier to children's participation, while the subscale attitude/support had the least impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of moderation on the tested relationship suggests that, when investigated under the negative perspective of environmental barriers, the contextual factors do not modify the relationship between mobility and school participation. Factors specific to the school environment might add to the present study's results regarding the effect of school participation in this population.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Sheyla R C
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Rosana F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Renata N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Daniela V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.
authors.forename: Marisa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017028:Caregivers / Q000592:standards; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D058992:Social Participation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*