Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity and Screen-Time in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Seven-Country Observational Study.
Justin A Haegele, Fenghua Sun, Chunxiao Li and 15 others
PMID 36849839WHAT IT FOUND
Across 1,165 youth with autism, better parent-rated neighborhood environment, social network, and home support were linked to more physical activity; bedroom media and lower neighborhood trust were linked to more screen-time.
These are associations, not proof of cause.
Key findings
01The analysed sample was 1,165 youth with ASD, and they were physically active on average 2.30 days per week while screen-time averaged 3.43 hours per day.
02In Model 2, neighborhood environment, social network, and social home environment remained significantly associated with physical activity; social trust and cohesion did not.
03Screen-time was significantly associated with social trust and cohesion, bedroom media, and social home environment, but not with neighborhood environment or social network.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
It was cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether changing the environment caused more activity or less screen-time. The sample was recruited through convenience and purposive channels, and country groups were uneven, so it may not represent all youth with ASD in those places. Parents reported the child's activity and screen-time, which can be influenced by socially desirable answers. Activity and screen-time were measured with single survey items, not objective movement or screen-time measures. Autism severity was parent-reported without clear criteria, and intellectual disability or IQ was not measured. Data were collected during COVID-19 quarantine periods, which may have affected activity and screen-time. The analysis removed 55 incomplete or outlier records from the consented sample.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that removing bedroom media will reduce screen-time or that improving neighborhood access will increase physical activity. This was a cross-sectional parent-report survey, so it shows associations, not cause.