Physical fitness, physical activity, psychosocial status and quality of life of adolescent siblings of neurologically disabled children

Background: This study aims to compare physical fitness, physical activity, the psychosocial state and the quality of life of adolescents who have disabled siblings with the adolescents who have healthy siblings. Material and methods: 100 adolescents were involved. The Body Mass Index, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance were measured to determine physical fitness. The FELS Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Depression Scale(CES-DC) and the 87-item Child Health Questionnaire(CHQ) were used to determine the level of their physical activity, depression status and the level of quality of life. Results: Only Vertical Jumping level among physical fitness parameters was found to be different between the groups (p < 0.05). Leisure Time, Occupation and Total Index points of the FELS of adolescents who had disabled siblings were statistically lower than of adolescents who had healthy siblings (p < 0.05). Depression scores of the study group were statistically higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Except the Family Cohesion subscale, CHQ scores were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A physically disabled child negatively affects the physical activity level and psychology of healthy siblings rather than their physical fitness.