title: Leisure Activity Enjoyment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Enjoyment is a fundamental component of activity participation. This study compared leisure activity enjoyment experienced by typically developing children (TD; n = 64) and those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; n = 67) from age 6 to 13. The TD children enjoyed formal and physical activities significantly more than the children with ASD. Symptom severity was negatively related to enjoyment of overall, formal, physical and social activities. Older children with ASD enjoyed overall, informal, recreational, and self-improvement activities significantly less than younger children, but no differences were seen across TD age groups. Children with ASD enjoyed swimming significantly more than TD children. Understanding patterns of activity enjoyment is useful for being better able to address a child's motivation to participate in various life activities.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eversole
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Amol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karmarkar
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colton
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Family Service Madison, Bridges Birth to Three, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Jill Phillips
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Physiotherapy Associates, St. Charles, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karsbaek
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Therapy Relief, Chesterfield, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica Reinken
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, PSKids, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolle Patricia
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Callier
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. clhilton@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Claudia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hilton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D057181:Pleasure; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Activity enjoyment; Autism spectrum disorders; Motivation