A grounded theory of adoption and maintenance of physical activity among autistic adults

Abstract

Background: Although a growing body of literature has explored the physical activity experiences from the perspective of children on the autism spectrum, the perspective of autistic adults remains largely unheard. Due to this absence of perspective, there exists limited knowledge of the appropriateness and generalizability of current models and theories of physical activity for this population. Methods: A constructivist grounded theory study was conducted to explore the experiences of adoption and maintenance of physical activity from the direct perspective of autistic adults. Autistic adults ( n = 23) from the United States and the United Kingdom were recruited. Results: A total of 29 codes emerged from the coding process. These codes were formed into four broad categories: (1) individual attributes; (2) environmental factors; (3) social relationships; and (4) social experiences. The interconnectedness of these four categories was explored. Conclusions: The findings and presented model highlight the importance of building successful experiences for young children on the autism spectrum, so that they are more likely to continue physical activity into their adult life. Furthermore, findings emphasize the importance of creating noncompetitive, sensory-friendly physical activity experiences for autistic adults that offer flexibility in social engagement. Lay abstract Little is known about how autistic adults experience physical activity. To begin to change this, we interviewed 23 autistic adults from the United State and the United Kingdom about their past and current experiences of physical activity participation. The interviewees told us about how their physical activity experiences were highly influenced by their individual strengths, the setting in which the activity took place, the presence of people to support their physical activities, and the sensory experiences they had while in physical activity. Through these interviews, we were able to create a model that represented the physical activity experiences discussed. Based on the model that emerged from this study, we recommend physical activity opportunities are made available that are noncompetitive, sensory-friendly, and that allow for participants to socialize as they prefer.

“Physical activity is beneficial to anyone, including those with ASD”: Antecedents of nurses recommending physical activity for people with autism spectrum disorder

“…Participation in regular physical activity is associated with a bevy of physical, psychological, and social benefits (Tamminen et al, 2020; Teychenne et al, 2020; Warburton & Bredin, 2017; Zahrt & Crum, 2017), and these benefits are often strongest among populations that would benefit the most (Cunningham, 2019), including people with ASD. Consistent with this perspective, past researchers have shown how physical activity is associated with improvements in social interactions and experiences (Colombo-Dougovito et al, 2020; Tse, 2020), motor skills and control (Ketcheson et al, 2017; Pan et al, 2017), sleep quality (Tse et al, 2019), cognition (Tan et al, 2016), stereotypic behaviors (Tarr et al, 2020), and physical fitness (Pan, 2011).…”

“…For example, people with ASD report participating in sport because they believe it is good for them, is a way to make friends, will make them feel good, and is fun (Stanish et al, 2015). People with ASD who have pleasant, successful physical activity experiences early in life might also persist with those behaviors into adulthood (Colombo-Dougovito et al, 2020). On the other hand, barriers also play a meaningful role.…”

“Just Invite Us”: Autistic Adults' Recommendations for Developing More Accessible Physical Activity Opportunities

“…These data were part of a larger grounded theory study exploring the adoption and maintenance of PA among autistic adults. 16…”

“…To see an abridged version of the full interview schedule, please refer to Colombo-Dougovito et al 16 Within this broad interview schedule, we embedded questions to allow participants an opportunity to share recommendations for improving PA experiences for individuals ''like themselves.'' Defining PA in a meaningful way for a specific population can be elusive.…”

Autism and physical health across the lifespan

“…Themes aligned across these independent cross-sectional groups of autistic individuals. The intersection of bullying and physical activity, for example, is a significant barrier during the adolescent years (Jachyra et al, 2021) that impacts activity engagement in adulthood (Colombo-Dougovito et al, 2021). Negative bullying experiences during childhood shape the lens through which autistic adults view themselves when engaging in physical activity.…”