Initial Development of the Health Promoting Activities Scale to Measure the Leisure Participation of Mothers of Children With Disabilities

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS) measures the frequency with which mothers participate in self-selected leisure activities that promote health and well-being. We undertook an initial evaluation of the scale with mothers of school-age children with developmental disabilities (N = 152). METHOD. We used a mixed methodology in the instrument design: a qualitative study to generate items and a quantitative study to evaluate the instrument. Our statistical analysis assessed the internal consistency, factor structure, and construct validity of the HPAS. RESULTS. The HPAS showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .78). Construct validity was supported by moderate correlations with subjective maternal mental and general health (Short Form 36, Version 2) and by differentiation in leisure participation among groups of mothers reporting differences in mental health status. CONCLUSION. Initial evaluation of the HPAS indicates that this brief tool is psychometrically sound. The HPAS allows professionals to evaluate clients’ participation in leisure occupations that promote health and well-being. Further development of the HPAS is warranted.

Self‐reported mental health of mothers with a school‐aged child with a disability in Victoria: A mixed method study

“…Further research should investigate other factors that may influence maternal mental health. Findings from this research that has investigated relationships between mother's mental health, work and participation in health promoting activity have been reported elsewhere 25,26 . A brief scale that measures a mother's report of challenging behaviours exhibited by her child that are associated with compromised mental health and care giving ability was also developed during this research 22 …”

“…Findings from this research that has investigated relationships between mother's mental health, work and participation in health promoting activity have been reported elsewhere. 25,26 A brief scale that measures a mother's report of challenging behaviours exhibited by her child that are associated with compromised mental health and care giving ability was also developed during this research. 22 Half of the mothers in this sample also reported being diagnosed with a mental health condition that required ongoing medical management.…”

Relationships between sleep disruptions, health and care responsibilities among mothers of school‐aged children with disabilities

“…Mothers who slept uninterrupted (Group 1) participated in health‐promoting activities with greater frequency (higher HPAS score). The HPAS measures the frequency that mothers participated in activities such as active or passive recreational pursuits, time alone to do as they wished or with socially supportive others and time planning their own health routines …”

“…An initial qualitative study investigated the experience of mothers, and initial design of psychometric instruments and a subsequent study involved mail‐out survey with follow‐up phone call. Further details of the methodology used in this research are available in another related article and descriptions of scales designed for this research . This study was approved by the La Trobe University Health Science Faculty Ethics Committee.…”

Barriers to maternal workforce participation and relationship between paid work and health

“…2004). Several scales were designed during this mixed methodology research in order to measure aspects of mothers' caregiving and non‐caregiving activities that have not been measured previously (Bourke‐Taylor et al . 2009, 2010b, in press b).…”