Physical activity and screen time among youth with autism: A longitudinal analysis from 9 to 18 years

To date, studies using cross-sectional methodologies make up a majority of the literature surrounding children with autism spectrum disorders and participation in physical activity and screen time. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine how physical activity and screen time behaviors co-develop for children with and without an autism spectrum disorder. To address this research gap, this study compared how physical activity and screen time levels changed over time (9 to 18 years of age) between youth with autism spectrum disorder and youth with neurotypical development. Data on the levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, television-, and video game-based screen time, collected as a part of the “Growing up in Ireland” study, were compared between youth with autism spectrum disorder and a propensity-matched sample of youth with neurotypical development (n = 88 per group; 176 in total). Robust regression analyses indicated that children with autism spectrum disorder became less active over time compared to children with neurotypical development and that video game screen time also differed significantly between the groups when children were 9 years old. These findings elucidate important disparities present between these groups of children during pivotal developmental times.

 

References:

Adamo, K. B., Prince, S. A., Tricco, A. C., Connor-Gorber, S., Tremblay, M. (2009). A comparison of indirect versus direct measures for assessing physical activity in the pediatric population: A systematic review. In. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 4(1), 2–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477160802315010

Anderson, E. L., Steen, E., Stavropoulos, V. (2017). Internet use and problematic internet use: A systematic review of longitudinal research trends in adolescence and emergent adulthood. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 22(4), 430–454. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2016.1227716

Arnell, S., Jerlinder, K., Lundqvist, L. O. (2020). Parents’ perceptions and concerns about physical activity participation among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 24, 2243–2255.

Austin, P. C. (2011). An introduction to propensity score methods for reducing the effects of confounding in observational studies. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 46(3), 399–424. https://doi.org/10.1080/00273171.2011.568786

Ayvazoglu, N. R., Kozub, F. M., Butera, G., Murray, M. J. (2015). Determinants and challenges in physical activity participation in families with children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders from a family systems perspective. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 47, 93–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2015.08.015

Bandini, L. G., Gleason, J., Curtin, C., Lividini, K., Anderson, S. E., Cermak, S. A., Maslin, M., Must, A. (2013). Comparison of physical activity between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Autism, 17(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361312437416

Bélanger, M., Casey, M., Cormier, M., Laflamme Filion, A., Martin, G., Aubut, S., Chouinard, P., Savoie, S. P., Beauchamp, J. (2011). Maintenance and decline of physical activity during adolescence: Insights from a qualitative study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-117

Blagrave, A. J., Colombo-Dougovito, A. M. (2019). Experiences participating in community physical activity by families with a child on the autism spectrum: A phenomenological inquiry. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 3(1), 72–84.

Boddy, L. M., Downs, S. J., Knowles, Z. R., Fairclough, S. J. (2015). Physical activity and play behaviours in children and young people with intellectual disabilities: A cross-sectional observational study. School Psychology International, 36(2), 154–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034314564242

Chonchaiya, W., Nuntnarumit, P., Pruksananonda, C. (2011). Comparison of television viewing between children with autism spectrum disorder and controls. Acta Paediatrica, 100(7), 1033–1037. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02166.x

Corvey, K., Menear, K. S., Preskitt, J., Goldfarb, S., Menachemi, N. (2016). Obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviors in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(2), 466–476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1844-5

Croen, L. A., Zerbo, O., Qian, Y., Massolo, M. L., Rich, S., Sidney, S., Kripke, C. (2015). The health status of adults on the autism spectrum. Autism, 19(7), 814–823. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361315577517

Domingues-Montanari, S. (2017). Clinical and psychological effects of excessive screen time on children. In. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 53(4), 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13462

Durkin, K. (2010). Videogames and young people with developmental disorders. Review of General Psychology, 14(2), 122–140. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019438

Eaves, L. C., Ho, H. H. (2008). Young adult outcome of autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(4), 739–747. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0441-x

Engelhardt, C. R., Mazurek, M. O., Sohl, K. (2013). Media use and sleep among boys with autism spectrum disorder, adhd, or typical development. Pediatrics, 132(6), 1081–1089. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-2066

Gordon-Larsen, P., Nelson, M. C., Popkin, B. M. (2004). Longitudinal physical activity and sedentary behavior trends: Adolescence to adulthood. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27(4), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2004.07.006

Hayes, G., Dowd, K. P., MacDonncha, C., Donnelly, A. E. (2019). Tracking of physical activity and sedentary behavior from adolescence to young adulthood: A systematic literature review. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(4): 446–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.03.013

Healy, S., Aigner, C. J., Haegele, J. A. (2018). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US youth with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 23, 1046–1050. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318791817

Healy, S., Msetfi, R., Gallagher, S. (2013). “Happy and a bit nervous”: The experiences of children with autism in physical education. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 41(3), 222–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12053

Jones, R. A., Downing, K., Rinehart, N. J., Barnett, L. M., May, T., McGillivray, J. A., Papadopoulos, N. V., Skouteris, H., Timperio, A., Hinkley, T. (2017). Physical activity, sedentary behavior and their correlates in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 12, e0172482. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172482

Kuo, M. H., Magill-Evans, J., Zwaigenbaum, L. (2015). Parental mediation of television viewing and videogaming of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and their siblings. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 19(6), 724–735. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361314552199

MacDonald, M., Esposito, P., Ulrich, D. (2011). The physical activity patterns of children with autism. BMC Research Notes, 4(2006), 422. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-4-422

Malina, R. M. (2001). Physical activity and fitness: Pathways from childhood to adulthood. American Journal of Human Biology, 13(2), 162–172. https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6300(200102/03)13:2<162::AID-AJHB1025>3.0.CO;2-T

Mannion, A., Leader, G. (2013). Comorbidity in autism spectrum disorder: A literature review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(12), 1595–1616. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RASD.2013.09.006

McCoy, S. M., Jakicic, J. M., Gibbs, B. B. (2016). Comparison of obesity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors between adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and without. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(7), 2317–2326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2762-0

McManus, B. M., Mandic, C. G., Carle, A. C., Robert, S. A. (2012). The effect of parent–child function on physical activity and television viewing among adolescents with and without special healthcare needs. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 59(3), 305–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2012.697749

Memari, A. H., Ghaheri, B., Ziaee, V., Kordi, R., Hafizi, S., Moshayedi, P. (2013). Physical activity in children and adolescents with autism assessed by triaxial accelerometry. Pediatric Obesity, 8(2), 150–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00101.x

Montes, G. (2016). Children with autism spectrum disorder and screen time: Results from a large, nationally representative US study. Academic Pediatrics, 16(2), 122–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2015.08.007

Murray, A., McCrory, C., Thornton, M., Williams, J., Quail, A., Swords, L., Doyle, E., Harris, E. (2010). Growing up in Ireland – Design, instrumentation and procedures for the child cohort (at 9 Years). Economic and Social Research Institute.

Must, A., Phillips, S., Curtin, C., Bandini, L. G. (2015). Barriers to physical activity in children with autism spectrum disorders: Relationship to physical activity and screen time. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 12(4), 529–534.

Must, A., Phillips, S. M., Curtin, C., Anderson, S. E., Maslin, M., Lividini, K., Bandini, L. G. (2014). Comparison of sedentary behaviors between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Autism, 18(4), 376–384. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361313479039

Obrusnikova, I., Miccinello, D. L. (2012). Parent perceptions of factors influencing after-school physical activity of children with autism spectrum disorders. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 29(1), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.29.1.63

Pan, C., Tsai, C. L., Chu, C. H., Sung, M. C., Ma, W. Y., Huang, C. Y. (2016). Objectively measured physical activity and health-related physical fitness in secondary school-aged male students with autism spectrum disorders. Physical Therapy, 96(4), 511–520. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20140353

Potvin, M. C., Snider, L., Prelock, P., Kehayia, E., Wood-Dauphinee, S. (2013). Recreational participation of children with high functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(2), 445–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1589-6

Ratcliff, K., Hong, I., Hilton, C. (2018). Leisure participation patterns for school age youth with autism spectrum disorders: Findings from the 2016 national survey of children’s health. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(11), 3783–3793.

Rosenbaum, P. R., Rubin, D. B. (1983). The central role of the propensity score in observational studies for causal effects. In. Biometrika, 70(1), 41–55 https://doi.org/10.1093/BIOMET

Sallis, J. F. (2000). Age-related decline in physical activity: A synthesis of human and animal studies. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(9), 1598–1600. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200009000-00012

Sandercock, G. R. H., Ogunleye, A., Voss, C. (2012). Screen time and physical activity in youth: Thief of time or lifestyle choice? Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 9(7), 977–984. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.9.7.977

Scharoun, S. M., Wright, K. T., Robertson-Wilson, J. E., Fletcher, P. C., Bryden, P. J. (2017). Physical activity in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): A review. https://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/53550.pdf

Shedlock, K., Susi, A., Gorman, G. H., Hisle-Gorman, E., Erdie-Lalena, C. R., Nylund, C. M. (2016). Autism spectrum disorders and metabolic complications of obesity. Journal of Pediatrics, 178, 183.e1–187.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.07.055

South, M., Ozonoff, S., McMahon, W. M. (2005). Repetitive behavior profiles in asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(2), 145–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-004-1992-8

Stiller, A., Mößle, T. (2018). Media use among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 5, 227–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-018-0135-7

Taylor, R. W., Williams, S. M., Farmer, V. L., Taylor, B. J. (2013). Changes in physical activity over time in young children: A longitudinal study using accelerometers. PLOS ONE, 8(11), e81567. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0081567

Telama, R. (2009). Tracking of physical activity from childhood to adulthood: A review. Obes Facts, 3, 187–195. https://doi.org/10.1159/000222244

Tyler, K., MacDonald, M., Menear, K. (2014). Physical activity and physical fitness of school-aged children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research and Treatment, 2014, 312163. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/312163

Zimmberman, F. J., Christakis, D. A. (2005). Children’s television viewing and cognitive outcomes: A longitudinal analysis of national data. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 159(7), 619–625. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.159.7.619