Peer-reviewed article

Strengthening family time: Child abilities and parental support as predictors of participation in children with disabilities

Anamarija Žic Ralić, Marijana Vrankić Pavon, Sonja Alimović · 17 Feb 2026

Abstract

Family activities foster emotional bonds, shared values, and the well-being of all members. Children with disabilities are generally less involved in family activities, with greater participation at home than in community settings. However, little is known about the predictors of their participation, particularly the roles of independence, challenging behavior, and social–emotional competencies. In this study, parents of children with disabilities of primary school age (N = 315) completed surveys on family activities, their own parental behaviors, and their child’s social and emotional competencies, independence, and frequency of challenging behaviors. Children’s independence and social–emotional competencies, together with parental support, emerged as positive predictors of family activities (family time, mealtime and household tasks, and socializing with others). In contrast, challenging behaviors reduced participation in socializing, while parental permissiveness reduced participation in mealtime and household tasks. These results indicate that both child characteristics and parental behaviors can enhance or hinder participation in family activities, providing insights for targeted interventions to improve family life for children with disabilities. • Child independence and social-emotional skills boost family activity participation. • Parental support enhances engagement in family time, meals, and household tasks. • Challenging behaviors reduce children’s participation in socializing with others. • Parental permissiveness lowers involvement in mealtimes and household activities.