Correlation between sleep problems and physical activity in children with autism spectrum disorder

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Sleep problems are frequently observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• These sleep disturbances are often associated with physical activity (PA) levels.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of sleep problems in children with ASD.
• To assess physical activity (PA) levels in this population.
• To analyze the correlation between sleep issues and PA in children with ASD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 312 children with ASD (ages 2.5-12 years).
• Data collected via general information questionnaire and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
• Guardians or primary caregivers completed the questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Over 40% of school-aged children (4-12 years) had less than one hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily.
• Daily exercise duration positively correlated with bedtime habits (P<0.05).
• Moderate-intensity exercise negatively correlated with daytime sleepiness (P<0.001) and total CSHQ scores (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Sleep problems are highly prevalent in children with ASD, with generally low PA levels.
• A significant correlation exists between sleep problems and physical activity.
• Monitoring PA is essential for managing sleep issues in children with ASD.