Leisure time patterns of children with and without disabilities: a cross-sectional latent class analysis.

Introduction: Leisure participation supports children's health, social inclusion, and well-being, yet children with disabilities (CWD) often face barriers to participate in organised and physically demanding activities. This study examined differences in leisure-time patterns between children with and without disabilities. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 6,049 Norwegian children aged 10-13 years were analysed. Leisure time was assessed across six domains using twenty-two indicators. Latent Class Analysis identified leisure-time profiles, and multinomial logistic regression examined associations between disability status and profile membership, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Results: Five leisure profiles emerged: Discussion: CWD were less likely to be in profiles characterised by organised and physical leisure activities and more likely to be in profiles dominated by screen-based and informal activities, indicating persistent barriers to inclusive leisure-time participation. These findings underscore the importance of developing strategies that promote accessible, organised, and physical activity-based leisure opportunities, such as sports, while also ensuring sustained access to inclusive informal and digital spaces, such as neighbourhood facilities and e-sports. These efforts would support the social lives and well-being of CWD.