Parental perceptions of participation of preschool children with and without mobility limitations: validity and reliability of the PART

Purpose. This study provides information on the psychometric properties of a newly developed Dutch-language instrument for measuring parental perceptions of participation of preschool children (aged 2+ to 5+ years): the PART.

Method. The PART was administered to parents of preschool children with (n = 51) and without (n = 285) physical developmental disabilities. In the group with disabilities, children with no or relatively minor mobility limitations (capability scores in mobility domain higher than one standard deviation below population mean) were excluded from all analyses. A subgroup of parents of children without disabilities (n - 56) filled out the PART a second time, after a five-week interval. Hypotheses regarding group differences in PART scores and correlations of PART scores with different, but related ICF-constructs were tested. Test-retest reliability of the PART scales was examined.

Results. Expectations about group differences were confirmed. PART scores were associated in predicted ways with related constructs. PART scales showed good test-retest reliability (ICCs from 0.76 to 0.87).

Conclusions. These findings indicate that the Dutch-language PART is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring parental perceptions of participation of preschool children with and without mobility limitations. The PART can prove useful for both clinical and research purposes.