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A randomized parent-mediated physical activity intervention for autistic children
Laura A Prieto1, Benazir Meera1, Ashlyn Barry1
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Insights
This study found that parent-mediated physical activity interventions significantly improved fundamental motor skills in autistic children. An in-person workshop showed the largest gains in locomotor and ball skills for children with autism.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Autistic children often exhibit delays in fundamental motor skills (FMS).
- Parental involvement can be a key factor in therapeutic interventions for children with autism.
- Physical activity interventions show promise for improving motor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a parent-mediated physical activity intervention on FMS in autistic children.
- To compare the efficacy of in-person versus online intervention delivery models.
- To assess both immediate and post-intervention effects on motor skill acquisition.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 31 parent-child dyads of autistic children (aged 4-11 years).
- Three groups: in-person workshop, online intervention, and control.
- A 12-week intervention with adapted physical activity equipment and a mobile app providing over 200 activities.
Main Results:
- The in-person group demonstrated large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 1.18 for locomotor, 0.82 for ball skills).
- The online group showed medium (0.49 for locomotor) and small (0.26 for ball skills) effect sizes.
- The control group exhibited small effect sizes (0.12 for locomotor, 0.06 for ball skills).
Conclusions:
- Parent-mediated physical activity interventions can effectively enhance FMS in autistic children.
- In-person interventions appear more impactful than online delivery for this population.
- Further research is needed to optimize interventions for motor skill development in autistic children.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate and post effects of a parent-mediated physical activity intervention on the fundamental motor skills of autistic children. We randomly assigned parent-child dyads (n = 31) of autistic children aged 4-11 years into three groups (workshop, an online, or control group). Each dyad participated in a 12-week intervention and was given adapted physical activity equipment and over 200 activities via a mobile application. Children were tested at the start and end of the intervention. The effect size (Cohen's ) of the control group for pre-post locomotor and ball skill scores were 0.12 and 0.06, respectively, indicating small effect size. The effect size of the online group for pre-post locomotor and ball skill scores were 49 and 0.26, respectively, indicating medium and small effect sizes. The effect size of the in-person group for pre-post locomotor and ball skill scores were 1.18 and 0.82, respectively, indicating large effect sizes. The outcomes of this physical activity intervention suggest that parents may facilitate the acquisition of fundamental motor skills of their autistic children. Although these results are positive, there is a need to further identify effective interventions for fundamental motor skill development in autistic children. Clinical Trials ID: NCT05159102.
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