This systematic review of literature aimed to synthesize the multilevel factors related to physical activity (PA) among adults (age 18–65) with intellectual disability living in group homes. Keyword searches were used to identify articles from electronic databases, resulting in the inclusion of 10 articles for full-text review. Data were extracted relating to study and sample characteristics and study findings. Methodological quality of the studies was also evaluated. Factors related to PA in group homes were identified at all levels of the social–ecological model. Intrapersonal factors (e.g., health and functional status, attitude to PA), interpersonal factors (e.g., staff attitude, encouragement for PA, and coparticipation in PA), and organizational factors (e.g., program offerings, staff education, and staff–client ratios) were prominent findings in the reviewed studies. The findings support a social–ecological approach for PA promotion in group homes that target intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational factors.

Improving physical activity (PA) levels in autistic adults is an important population health goal. Limiting efforts to achieve this goal is an incomplete understanding of the barriers to PA in this high-risk group. This study utilized cross-sectional data collected via an electronic survey from 253 autistic adults aged 18-50 years to examine their perceived barriers to PA, how PA barriers differed by demographic factors, and the relationship between PA barriers and meeting PA guidelines. The Barriers to Physical Activity scale assessed the independent variable. Lack of motivation to exercise, perceiving exercise as boring, and lack of transportation were the most strongly endorsed barriers to PA. Participants who reported these barriers were significantly less likely (≤ 50%) to meet PA guidelines.

In this expository paper, we reflect upon our understanding of how disabled people are discussed and treated in kinesiology and adapted physical activity in higher education and explore potential areas of unintentional harm that may be present in our everyday practice. There are three particular aspects of kinesiology in higher education that we discuss: access, language, and assessment. We discuss the challenges of access of disabled people in positions in higher education, language in higher education which serves as centers for knowledge creation, and the problematic nature of assessments based on societal norms, and for us, it is important to shine a spotlight on the many systemic limitations and barriers that disabled persons experience, in hope to amplify the importance of these issues.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of current smoking and examine the association between meeting combinations of the 24-h movement guidelines and current smoking in autistic adults. This cross-sectional study administered an electronic survey to a national sample of autistic adults in the United States. The study outcome was current smoking. Independent variables included the 24-h movement behaviors. Multivariable statistical modeling was used to assess the study aims. The study sample ( n = 259) had a mean age of 31.05 years (standard deviation = 7.70), 58.7% were male, 11.2% were fully independent, and 35.5% were current smokers. Current smokers met significantly fewer 24-h movement guidelines than non-smokers (mean = 1.52 (standard deviation = 0.73) vs mean= 1.93 (standard deviation = 0.88), respectively, t = 3.77, p < 0.01). Autistic adults with high levels of sedentary behavior were almost three times more likely (odds ratio = 2.784, 95% confidence interval = 1.490, 5.237) to be a current smoker than those who did not meet these guidelines. Autistic adults not meeting sleep and sedentary behavior recommendations had a 1.581 increased odds (odds ratio = 1.581 95% confidence interval = 1.25, 2.001) of being a smoker as compared to those meeting these recommendations. Current smoking was highly prevalent in this sample. Improving sleep health and reducing sedentary time may be viable intervention targets to help promote smoking cessation in autistic adults. Lay abstract Cigarette smoking is a leading risk behavior for cardiovascular disease; yet its prevalence and determinants are not clear in autistic adults. We examined the prevalence of current smoking and its association between meeting 24-h movement (i.e. sleep, physical activity, and sedentary behavior) guidelines in a self-selecting convenience sample of 259 autistic adults in the United States. We found that current smokers met fewer 24-h movement guidelines. Most significant, those who had insufficient sleep and those with high levels of sedentary behavior were more likely to be current smokers. Therefore, targeting these movement behaviors may be potential intervention targets for smoking cessation.

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