Leisure activities in individuals with Prader-Willi, Williams, and Down syndromes

2006

Robert Hodapp
[email protected]
615-322-8946

This study extends laboratory-based profiles to participation in leisure activities for persons with three genetic syndromes. Parents of 223 persons with Prader-Willi, Williams, and Down syndromes filled out a newly-developed Leisure Activities Questionnaire. Sixteen items loaded onto 5 distinct factors: social; visual-spatial; visual-strategy; musical; and physical activities. Individuals with Williams syndrome less often participated in visual-spatial activities, those with Prader-Willi syndrome more often performed both visual-spatial and visual-strategy activities, and those with Williams and Down syndromes more often performed musical activities. With increasing chronological ages, all groups increased in their social activities, while those with Williams and Down syndromes decreased in their visual-spatial activities. In Prader-Willi syndrome, decreased maladaptive behaviors related to more visual-strategy activities; in Williams syndrome, to greater amounts of musical participation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals Published/In Press

Consumers/Families, Professionals, Students

Visual Format or Large Print

N/A