Deficit motorio e immagine corporea: intervento in piccolo gruppo in età preadolescenziale

Background. Chronic illness with early onset may significantly impact a child’s psychological and behavioural development and be a risk factor during preadolescence.
Objectives. To observe the quality of life (QoL) of preadolescents with Infantile Cerebral Palsy (ICP) in a group psychoeducational setting and offer a space for peer discussion about self-perception and body image.
Materials and Methods. The proposed group psychoeducational intervention involved 4 participants (2 boys and 2 girls), aged 10-13, with a diagnosis of ICP and functoning within the normal range of intellectual ability. Emotional functioning, motor skills and QoL were assessed. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions, each including gross or fine motor activities and reflective moments focused on self-awareness and emotional expression.
Results. Three out of four participants reported discomfort from years of being physically manipulated by different professionals. Three also described pain and feeling uneasy about it. Overall, all participants felt effective in interacting with both familiar and unfamiliar people. None expressed significant concern about having ICP. Parent-reported scores were generally higher than those found in other countries and closely aligned with the only available Italian study.
Conclusions. Motor impairment may affect QoL, physical well-being, self-efficacy and relational abilities. Pain appears more frequently than expected. Parents tend to equate QoL with motor performance. These findings support the need for ongoing assessments over time as part of a comprehensive care approach.