Perceptual and emotional responses to home built environments among preschool children with physical mobility impairments: A scoping review

Preschool children with physical mobility impairments as a form of disabilities (PMIOD) may face concurrent challenges in perceptual behavior, spatial participation, and emotional responses in home and everyday environments. This study conducted a scoping review. Search terms and eligibility criteria were developed based on the Population-Concept-Context framework, and the review was reported following PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and APA PsycINFO/APA PsycArticles for articles and reviews published between January 2015 and May 2026. A total of 1871 records were identified. After deduplication, 1589 titles and abstracts were screened, 654 full texts were assessed, and 176 studies were finally included. The findings showed that mobility limitations in PMIOD children were associated with reduced spatial exploration, difficulties in mobility, obstacle avoidance, and environmental understanding, restricted play participation, and limited action autonomy. Spatial accessibility, path continuity, assistive device fit, caregiver support, and sensory environments were jointly associated with children's modes of participation and emotional experiences. Existing studies mainly used questionnaires, proxy reports, interviews, behavioral observation, video coding, sensors, and assistive technologies to assess related behavioral and emotional expressions. However, the standardization of these methods, their age appropriateness, and evidence from real home spaces remain limited. Overall, the perceptual behaviors and emotional responses of PMIOD children were jointly related to physical ability, spatial conditions, assistive devices, and caregiving relationships. Future research should further differentiate age and mobility ability differences and translate home space factors, including paths, furniture, assistive devices, and sensory environments, into measurable and comparable analytical variables.