The effect of SPARK on social and motor skills of children with autism

Najafabadi, Mahboubeh Ghayour; Sheikh, Mahmoud; Hemayattalab, Rasool; Memari, Amir Hossein; Aderyani, Maryam Rezaii; Hafizi, Sina

doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2017.12.005

Cited by 75 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In general, swimming pools serve as a hub for all sorts of activities, social gatherings, and community activities. For instance, study results of Pan (2010) and Najafabadi et al (2018) argue that group aquatic activities create an adapted atmosphere in which a child or an adolescent with ASD interact with other people, even if he or she has never met before. From a social development standpoint, this aspect of group work in the water can be valuable as a child learns how to interact and be confident around different personalities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although in a few studies, such as the one of Fragala-Pinkham et al (2011) and Najafabadi et al (2018) there are provided descriptions in which parents assessed participants with structured scales and subscales. The findings showed that on the programme satisfaction questionnaire, parents reported high levels of satisfaction with the programme activities.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Responses to the openended questions on the parent satisfaction questionnaire were reviewed and key themes were identified. The same data analysis was used in the study by Najafabadi et al (2018), by Yanardag et al (2015) and by Pan (2010) (see Table no. 4).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In only one of the rests of the studies, participants engaged in three different aquatic skills, essential for movement exploration in water and swimming, in a one-to-one training format (Yanardag, 2015). Finally, three studies used a structured intervention programme, such as SPARK programme, which consisted of 36 sessions (Najafabadi et al, 2018), a twenty-one weeks water exercise swimming program (WESP) (Pan, 2010) and a twelve weeks multisystemic aquatic programme (CI-MAT) as a form of therapy (Battaglia, 2019).…”

Section: Aquatic Exercises Training Protocolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All the reviewed studies reported improvements in social behavior of participants with ASD (e.g., reduced anxiety, increased social interactions and play). More specifically, SPARK program by the study of Najafabadi et al (2018) showed that participants with ASD display a substantial improvement in social interaction. Aquatic activities promoted psychological and social development such as self-esteem, self-confidence, and selfcompetence which are crucial factors for socialization.…”

Section: Outcomes Of Reviewed Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adolescence is among the most studied developmental stages. It represents critical transition stage in human development, characterized by a large amount of changes, to which young people must find creative solutions in order to adapt. Among the most important developmental tasks is the dimension of motivation and, in particular, interests as motivational structures. A convenience sample of 1360 adolescents, aged between 12 and 24 years old, filled in the Questionnaire for Evaluation of Vocational Interests (Cognitrom Assessment System). The objectives and hypotheses of the research are mainly focused on the identification of the existing differences in the area of interests, based on the following criteria: age, gender and environment of provenance. The study identifies a preference of the postadolescents for the social and investigative interests; a preference for artistic, social and realistic interests of girls; and a preference of urban-based adolescents for conventional and investigative interests. Results highlight the importance of identifying the variability of interests for both a better knowledge of this developmental stage and a better organization of the instructive-educational activities, thus supporting the development of career counseling and guidance in schools, high-schools and universities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Aquatic Exercises Training Protocolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Outcomes Of Reviewed Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2023

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In this paper, systematic review and meta‐analysis were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of physical activity intervention on core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Physical activity intervention for core symptoms of ASD were retrieved by computer from the PubMed Cochrane Library, Web of Science, APA PsycNet, and CNKI database during December 1, 2022. Two researchers evaluated the quality of the included literature and extracted the data. Sixteen studies were eventually included, with a total of 587 patients with ASD. Meta‐analysis showed that the core symptoms of ASD patients decreased after physical activity intervention, ES(g) = 0.681(95% CI: 0.380–0.982, p = 0.000), specifically, physical activity improved the reduction of social disorder ES(g) = 0.749(95% CI: 0.524–0.973) and repeated rigid behavior ES(g) = 0.553 (95% CI: −0.079 to 1.186). Subgroup analysis showed that preschool children with ASD who were 3–6 years old, exercised for more than 12 weeks, more than 3 times a week, and exercised for more than 90 min per session had better improvement in core symptoms after participating in physical activity. The conclusion of this paper is that physical activity intervention can improve the core symptoms of ASD, especially the reduction of social disorders and repetitive behaviors.

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Promoting Positive Health Outcomes in an Urban Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Preschool Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum

Ketcheson

Staples

Pitchford

et al. 2021

J Autism Dev Disord

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While there is wide consensus regarding the importance of early intervention, health is rarely considered within priorities. Twenty-five children on the autism spectrum (M age = 4.67, SD = 0.82) participated in a 12-week physical activity intervention. Primary objective was to examine impact of a physical activity intervention on physical activity, fitness and motor competence. Secondary objective was to examine associations between motor behavior and ASD symptoms. Ball skills (p < .001) and isometric push-up performance (p = .02) improved. Autism symptoms were associated with motor skills (r > − .49, p < .05). Study outcomes provide new knowledge regarding design, delivery, and measures for early interventions targeting health disparities in young children on the autism spectrum. Keywords Autism • Motor behavior • Health • InterventionChildren on the autism spectrum experience greater health disparities when compared to their neurotypical peers

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The effect of SPARK on social and motor skills of children with autism

Abstract: The results of this study suggest that the SPARK's training can be considered as a therapeutic option not only for motor enhancement but also for improving social skills in children with ASD.

Cited by 75 publications

References 30 publications

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Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Promoting Positive Health Outcomes in an Urban Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Preschool Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum

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