Physical activity correlates in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review
Anke Arkesteyn, Tine Van Damme, Anoushka Thoen, Véronique Cornelissen, Seán Healy, Davy Vancampfort
Abstract
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: , 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 REHABILITATIONRehabilitation 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.