TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical activity correlates in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
T2 - a systematic review
AU - Arkesteyn, Anke
AU - Van Damme, Tine
AU - Thoen, Anoushka
AU - Cornelissen, Véronique
AU - Healy, Sean
AU - Vancampfort, Davy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Purpose: This systematic review examined correlates of physical activity (PA) at all levels of the socio-ecological model (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental and policy level) in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and methods: Major electronic databases were searched from inception until March 23rd, 2021. A summary coding was used to analyze the data for children (3–12 years) and adolescents (13–18 years) with ASD separately. Results: Out of the 79 potential PA correlates, retrieved from 32 studies (991 657 children; 3857 adolescents), only five correlates were consistently examined as a PA correlate (i.e., examined in four or more studies) in children and adolescents with ASD. Only age was inversely associated with PA in children and adolescents with ASD. Data on gender, body mass index, autism severity level and day of the week being physically active in children with ASD were mixed. Conclusions: We only found consistent evidence for age being inversely related to PA. Our review indicates that more research is needed to explore intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental and policy-related correlates of PA in children and adolescents with ASD.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Rehabilitation programs should take into account that in particular older children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder are at risk for physical inactivity. Boys and girls with autism spectrum disorder need the same care when motivating them to be more physically active.
AB - Purpose: This systematic review examined correlates of physical activity (PA) at all levels of the socio-ecological model (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental and policy level) in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and methods: Major electronic databases were searched from inception until March 23rd, 2021. A summary coding was used to analyze the data for children (3–12 years) and adolescents (13–18 years) with ASD separately. Results: Out of the 79 potential PA correlates, retrieved from 32 studies (991 657 children; 3857 adolescents), only five correlates were consistently examined as a PA correlate (i.e., examined in four or more studies) in children and adolescents with ASD. Only age was inversely associated with PA in children and adolescents with ASD. Data on gender, body mass index, autism severity level and day of the week being physically active in children with ASD were mixed. Conclusions: We only found consistent evidence for age being inversely related to PA. Our review indicates that more research is needed to explore intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental and policy-related correlates of PA in children and adolescents with ASD.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Rehabilitation programs should take into account that in particular older children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder are at risk for physical inactivity. Boys and girls with autism spectrum disorder need the same care when motivating them to be more physically active.
KW - Autism spectrum disorder
KW - environment
KW - exercise
KW - interpersonal
KW - intrapersonal
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113738585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09638288.2021.1970251
DO - 10.1080/09638288.2021.1970251
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34455885
AN - SCOPUS:85113738585
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 44
SP - 6539
EP - 6550
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 22
ER -