Comparison of sedentary behaviors between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sedentary behavior, primarily electronic screen media use, is a significant concern.
• Limited data exists on sedentary behavior differences between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare sedentary behavior time in children with ASD versus TD children.
• To investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior and weight status (BMI z-score) in these groups.

Main Methods:

• Parental reports were used to assess sedentary behavior in 53 children with ASD and 58 TD children (aged 3-11 years).
• Statistical analyses compared time spent in sedentary behaviors and screen time between groups.
• The association between sedentary behavior and BMI z-score was examined.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD spent significantly more time in sedentary behaviors on weekdays (5.2 hours) compared to TD children (4.2 hours).
• Weekday screen time was substantially higher for children with ASD (2.5 hours) versus TD children (1.6 hours).
• A significant association between weekend sedentary behavior and BMI z-score was found in children with ASD, but not TD children.

Conclusions:

• Children with ASD exhibit higher levels of sedentary behavior, largely driven by screen time, compared to their TD peers.
• Sedentary behavior, particularly on weekends, is modestly associated with relative weight status in children with ASD.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore causal mechanisms.