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What Constitutes Self-Concept for Children with CP? A Delphi Consensus Survey

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Abstract

This study aimed to identify constructs (factors) and content (items) that constitutes self-concept for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Three participant groups were recruited for a three-round Delphi survey: 12 children with CP aged 8–12 years, 18 caregivers, and 21 professionals working with this population. Delphi Round I involved item generation and literature review. In Round II, participants used a five-point scale to rate the importance of factors/items collated from (a) existing self-concept measures identified from literature review and (b) additional factors/items raised in Round I. To increase understanding for children, the rating process was incorporated into a game-based format called “myTREEHOUSE” where ramps leading up to the tree house represented progressively higher ratings. Each item was presented by the researcher verbally (short standard phrase) and visually (Pictorial Communication Symbols card). Factors and items reaching 75 % consensus within each group were removed and those not reaching consensus were repeated in Round III. Consensus on factors and items reaching consensus after Rounds II and III was examined within and between groups. A total of 117 items were identified by the review and 24 from Delphi Round I, totalling 141 items. After Delphi Rounds II and III, 52 items achieved consensus from two or more participant groups. While many areas of self-concept recognised as important for children with CP were similar to typically developing children, several additional CP-specific elements were identified through the Delphi survey.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Cerebral Palsy League, Brisbane, Australia, for in-kind support for this study and all of the professionals, parents/caregivers and children who participated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, PO Box 456, Virginia, QLD, 4014, Australia

    Sau Kuan Cheong & Cathryne P. Lang

  2. School of Psychology & Learning Sciences Institute Australia, Australian Catholic University, Locked Bag 4115 Fitzroy MDC, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia

    Sheryl A. Hemphill

  3. School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Leanne M. Johnston

  4. Cerebral Palsy League, 55 Oxlade Drive, Brisbane, QLD, 4005, Australia

    Leanne M. Johnston

Authors
  1. Sau Kuan Cheong
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  2. Cathryne P. Lang
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  3. Sheryl A. Hemphill
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  4. Leanne M. Johnston
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sau Kuan Cheong.

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Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Cheong, S.K., Lang, C.P., Hemphill, S.A. et al. What Constitutes Self-Concept for Children with CP? A Delphi Consensus Survey. J Dev Phys Disabil 28, 333–346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-015-9471-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-015-9471-z

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