Lee Jihyun, Healy Sean, Haegele Justin A
Department of Kinesiology, San Jose State University, One Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, USA.
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Ireland.
Disabil Health J. 2022 Oct;15(4):101340. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101340. Epub 2022 May 6.
It is increasingly recognized that children's physical activity behaviors are shaped by neighborhood environment factors and their parent's support. However, these factors have been scarcely studied among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a population at risk of inactivity.
This cross-sectional survey study was designed to examine how neighborhood environmental factors and parental support are related to physical activity levels of children with ASD. Also, this study examined if the relationship between the environment and physical activity is modified by demographic factors and COVID-19 related concerns.
An online survey was completed by parents of children with ASD aged 10-17 years. The questionnaire included items related to environmental factors (i.e., distance to school, distance to park, existence of sidewalks, walkability), parent support for physical activity (i.e., encouraging, watching, and providing transportation), child's physical activity, and demographic characteristics. The instrument also queried parental concerns about COVID-19 and their child's physical activity participation.
The results indicate that proximity to a local park and to school is positively associated with physical activity. Parent's encouraging behavior correlated with and predicted children's physical activity levels. Also, higher levels of COVID-19 related concerns among parents were related to decreased physical activity supporting behaviors.
This study demonstrated that the neighborhood environment, in particular the distance between home and parks and schools, and parent support behavior are influential factors that may shape physical activity behaviors for children with ASD.
人们越来越认识到，儿童的身体活动行为受到邻里环境因素及其父母支持的影响。然而，在自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童这一缺乏身体活动风险较高的群体中，对这些因素的研究却很少。
这项横断面调查研究旨在探讨邻里环境因素和父母支持与ASD儿童身体活动水平之间的关系。此外，本研究还考察了环境与身体活动之间的关系是否会因人口统计学因素和与COVID-19相关的担忧而改变。
对10至17岁ASD儿童的父母进行了一项在线调查。问卷包括与环境因素（即到学校的距离、到公园的距离、人行道的存在、步行便利性）、父母对身体活动的支持（即鼓励、观看和提供交通）、儿童的身体活动以及人口统计学特征相关的项目。该工具还询问了父母对COVID-19的担忧以及他们孩子的身体活动参与情况。
结果表明，靠近当地公园和学校与身体活动呈正相关。父母的鼓励行为与儿童的身体活动水平相关并可预测其身体活动水平。此外，父母对COVID-19的担忧程度较高与身体活动支持行为减少有关。
本研究表明，邻里环境，特别是家庭与公园和学校之间的距离，以及父母的支持行为是可能影响ASD儿童身体活动行为的重要因素。
