Enjoyment, Barriers, and Beliefs About Physical Activity in Adolescents With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The authors compared physical activity enjoyment, perceived barriers, beliefs, and self-efficacy between adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) adolescents. A questionnaire was verbally administered to 35 adolescents with ASD and 60 TD adolescents. Compared with TD adolescents, fewer adolescents with ASD enjoyed team sports (65% vs. 95%, p < .001) and physical education (84% vs. 98%, p = .02). A greater proportion of adolescents with ASD perceived that physical activities were too hard to learn (16% vs. 0%, p < .01), and fewer believed that physical activity was a way to make friends (68% vs. 97%, p < .001). Fewer adolescents with ASD preferred to do physical activity in their free time (25% vs. 58%, p < .01). Most adolescents with ASD felt that physical activity is fun (84%), but the proportion was lower than in TD adolescents (98%, p = .03). Some perceptions about physical activity were similar between the 2 groups, but differences identified may inform program development.
Dept. of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA.
Heidi
H
Stanish
Carol
C
Curtin
Aviva
A
Must
Sarah
S
Phillips
Melissa
M
Maslin
Linda
L
Bandini
D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult