O'Flaherty Martin, Hill Jessica, Bourke Matthew, Gomersall Sjaan, Tweedy Sean, Cairney John
The University of Queensland, Australia.
Autism. 2025 Oct;29(10):2575-2587. doi: 10.1177/13623613251345345. Epub 2025 Jun 11.
Autistic children are less likely to participate in sport than non-autistic children, but we know little about how patterns of participation in team and individual sport change across childhood. Drawing on a nationally representative cohort of Australian children, this study analysed trajectories of participation in team and individual sport between the ages of 8 and 15 using a group-based multiple trajectory modelling approach. A five-group solution was found to be the best fit to the data, identifying distinct patterns of sport participation over time. In comparison with non-autistic children, autistic children were more likely to belong to the 'sport avoider' group with low participation in both team and individual sport at all ages. Conversely, autistic children were less likely to be classified in the 'team sportsperson', 'ex-team sportsperson' or 'mixed sportsperson' groups. No difference in the likelihood of belonging to the 'individual sportsperson' group was found. Risk factors for trajectory group membership were similar for autistic and non-autistic children. Our findings indicate that autistic children are particularly likely to experience exclusion from team sport environments, and this exclusion persists over time. Similar rates of participation in individual sport for autistic and non-autistic children indicate that these environments may be more supportive for autistic children.Lay abstractAutistic children are less likely to participate in sport than non-autistic children, but we know little about how patterns of participation in team and individual sport change across childhood. Drawing on data for a group of Australian children whose families were reinterviewed between ages 8 and 15, the present study patterns of participation in team and individual sport over time. Findings from the analysis suggested that children could be grouped into five patterns of participation in team and individual sport between the ages of 8 and 15. In comparison with non-autistic children, autistic children were more likely to belong to the 'sport avoider' group with low participation in both team and individual sport at all ages. Conversely, autistic children were less likely to belong to the 'team sportsperson', 'ex-team sportsperson' or 'mixed sportsperson' groups. Similar numbers of autistic and non-autistic children belonged to the 'individual sportsperson' group. Factors linked to patterns of participation over time were similar for autistic and non-autistic children. Our findings indicate that autistic children are particularly likely to experience exclusion from team sport environments, and this exclusion persists over time. Similar rates of participation in individual sport for autistic and non-autistic children indicate that these environments may be more supportive for autistic children.
与非自闭症儿童相比，自闭症儿童参与体育运动的可能性较小，但我们对团队运动和个人运动的参与模式在整个童年时期如何变化却知之甚少。本研究利用澳大利亚具有全国代表性的儿童队列，采用基于群体的多轨迹建模方法分析了8至15岁儿童参与团队运动和个人运动的轨迹。研究发现五组解决方案最适合数据，确定了不同时期的体育参与模式。与非自闭症儿童相比，自闭症儿童更有可能属于“运动回避者”组，在所有年龄段，他们参与团队运动和个人运动的程度都较低。相反，自闭症儿童被归类为“团队运动员”“前团队运动员”或“混合运动员”组的可能性较小。在属于“个人运动员”组的可能性方面未发现差异。自闭症儿童和非自闭症儿童成为轨迹组成员的风险因素相似。我们的研究结果表明，自闭症儿童尤其容易被排除在团队运动环境之外，而且这种排除会随着时间持续存在。自闭症儿童和非自闭症儿童参与个人运动的比例相似，这表明这些环境可能对自闭症儿童更具支持性。
与非自闭症儿童相比，自闭症儿童参与体育运动的可能性较小，但我们对团队运动和个人运动的参与模式在整个童年时期如何变化却知之甚少。本研究利用一组澳大利亚儿童的数据，这些儿童的家庭在8至15岁之间接受了重新访谈，研究了随着时间推移参与团队运动和个人运动的模式。分析结果表明，8至15岁的儿童可以分为五种参与团队运动和个人运动的模式。与非自闭症儿童相比，自闭症儿童更有可能属于“运动回避者”组，在所有年龄段，他们参与团队运动和个人运动的程度都较低。相反，自闭症儿童属于“团队运动员”“前团队运动员”或“混合运动员”组的可能性较小。自闭症儿童和非自闭症儿童属于“个人运动员”组的人数相似。自闭症儿童和非自闭症儿童与随着时间推移的参与模式相关的因素相似。我们的研究结果表明，自闭症儿童尤其容易被排除在团队运动环境之外，而且这种排除会随着时间持续存在。自闭症儿童和非自闭症儿童参与个人运动的比例相似，这表明这些环境可能对自闭症儿童更具支持性。
