Disparities in Physical Activity and Sport Participation Among Transition-Age Youth With Autism and Intellectual Disability.
Daniel E Lidstone
Youth with autism, especially those without intellectual disability, had the lowest rates of physical activity and sport participation in this national survey of 26,308 teens.
No intervention was tested.
Key findings
1All three diagnostic groups (autism only, intellectual disability only, and both) had significantly lower odds of weekly physical activity and sport participation than youth without these conditions. The autism-only group had the lowest odds for both outcomes.
2Lower household income, female sex, and being 16 or 17 were associated with lower odds of both physical activity and sport participation across all diagnostic groups.
3Race was not associated with either outcome after adjustment, and non-metropolitan residence was associated with higher odds of sport participation.
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What it does not show
All data came from parent reports, including the diagnosis itself, so recall and reporting bias are possible. The survey is a single snapshot. It cannot show whether inactivity started before or after a diagnosis, or whether it will persist into adulthood. Physical activity was reduced to a yes/no question: did the child have at least one day of 60 minutes in the past week? Intensity, duration beyond 60 minutes, and the type of activity were not captured. The survey does not ask about cost, transportation, program availability, or social support, so the specific barriers behind the inactivity are not identified. The authors note the data may underrepresent families with the greatest disability-related burden.
Declared interests
The author declares no conflicts of interest and reports no funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the lower participation rates as evidence that youth with autism cannot be physically active. The paper describes a disparity in access and opportunity, not a capability deficit. It also tests no intervention, so it offers no evidence that any specific program will close the gap.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →