Variables Associated With Shift of Responsibility for Daily Tasks From Parents to Children With and Without Disabilities

Abstract

Importance: No study has directly investigated which variables are associated with the shift of responsibility for managing daily tasks from parent to child in the transition to adulthood.

Objective: To examine characteristics associated with responsibility for managing daily life tasks in youth with and without disabilities.

Design: A secondary data analysis of parent-report data on typically developing (TD) youth and youth with disabilities.

Setting: An online panel that has regularly participated in online surveys.

Participants: A nationally representative sample of 2,205 TD U.S. children and youth, ages 0 to 20 yr, 11 mo (about 100 children per age year) and a sample of 617 children and youth with disabilities, ages 0 to 20 yr, 11 mo.

Outcomes and measures: The dependent variable was the Responsibility domain scaled score (from the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test), which reflects the extent to which responsibility for daily tasks has shifted from parent to youth.

Results: Youth with higher levels of responsibility were older in age, reported to be more focused, and youngest in birth order (TD, R ² = .79; disability, R ² = .35). Youth with developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or orthopedic or movement impairments had assumed less responsibility.

Conclusions and relevance: Other personal characteristics in addition to disability may have important influences on parents' decision making as they prepare their children to manage daily life tasks.

What this article adds: Clinicians who work with adolescents in the process of transition to adulthood need to consider the potential influence of the personal characteristics, such as birth order and child temperament, on preparation for adulthood.