Physical activity in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: Parental perceptions of barriers and facilitators.
Parents see themselves, autism traits, and scarce post-school options as the main on-off switch for physical activity in young adults with ASD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Nichols et al. (2019) asked parents of young adults with autism what helps or blocks physical activity.
They ran open-ended interviews. No numbers. Just parents' own words.
What they found
Parents said the same three things can help or hurt: themselves, autism traits, and chances to move.
When parents feel confident and programs exist, activity happens. When support drops after high school, activity stops.
How this fits with other research
Lam et al. (2010) saw the same flip side in preschool families. Willingness is high, but worry about trouble drives choices.
Van der Molen et al. (2010) found nearly the same themes with adults who have Down syndrome. Caregiver support and fun routines boost activity; lack of help or interest kills it.
Pitchford et al. (2016) adds a twist: parents who believe activity is important have kids who move more. Chad's parents already value movement; they just need the path cleared after school ends.
Why it matters
You already train parents to teach skills. Add a simple check: "What sport or club can your adult join next month?" Help them list local options, then script the first phone call or email. One concrete plan keeps young adults moving after the school bell stops ringing.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The importance of physical activity in persons with disabilities is well known, yet the prevalence of inactivity remains high. The physical activity behaviors among adults on the autism spectrum are largely unexplored. It is presumed that sedentary behavior and obesity are a greater health issue among young adults on the autism spectrum who no longer receive Individuals with Disabilities Education Act services and supports such as school-based physical education. Using a phenomenology approach, the parents of eight young adults on the autism spectrum were interviewed about their perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to getting their young adults on the autism spectrum physically active. The purpose of this study was to investigate parent's perspective of physical activity barriers and facilitators of their adult children on the autism spectrum. Common themes of both physical activity barriers and facilitators included parents, behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder, and access and opportunities.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2019 · doi:10.1177/1362361318810221