Leisure Activity Enjoyment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Enjoyment is a fundamental component of activity participation. This study compared leisure activity enjoyment experienced by typically developing children (TD; n = 64) and those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; n = 67) from age 6 to 13. The TD children enjoyed formal and physical activities significantly more than the children with ASD. Symptom severity was negatively related to enjoyment of overall, formal, physical and social activities. Older children with ASD enjoyed overall, informal, recreational, and self-improvement activities significantly less than younger children, but no differences were seen across TD age groups. Children with ASD enjoyed swimming significantly more than TD children. Understanding patterns of activity enjoyment is useful for being better able to address a child's motivation to participate in various life activities.

Perceptions of Physical Activity Participation Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Conceptual Model of Conditional Participation

“…Reasons for adolescents with an ASD not being physically active are complex and depend on several factors (Obrusnikova and Cavalier 2011 ). The most common reasons relate to intrinsic factors such as lack of motivation (Obrusnikova and Miccinello 2012 ; Stanish et al 2015 ), low interest in PA (Obrusnikova and Cavalier 2011 ), low perceived motor skill competence (Loprinzi et al 2015 ) and low enjoyment of PA (Eversole et al 2016 ). Other reasons relate to the symptoms of ASD, such as impaired communication, limited social interaction and motor difficulties (Damme et al 2015 ).…”

Capturing everyday experiences of typically developing children aged five to seven years: A feasibility study of experience sampling methodology

“…The current base of literature surrounding everyday experiences of young children is limited by current assessment methodologies, such as parent reporting and interviews with children (e.g. Eversole et al, 2016;Fischer, Church, Lyons & McPherson, 2015;Koster, Pijl, Nakken & Van Houten, 2010). Of the various limitations, the greatest concern is the extensive memory distortion that pervades retrospective reporting (Stone & Shiffman, 2002).…”

Measurement properties of instruments that assess participation in young people with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review

“…Parent and child report on other tools also vary, usually because a parent does not know what their child is thinking. With regards to participation in autism, some people with ASD may not enjoy certain specific activities in the same way of people who do not have an ASD diagnosis and this may influence whether they want to participate or not in certain activities. Furthermore, in addition to the participation tool, investigating areas of special interests using open questions would be recommended in this population .…”