Effects of Parent-Child Coparticipation in Physical Activity on Physical Activity Levels and Motor Skills of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study aimed to examine the effects of parent-child coparticipation in physical activity (PA) on the PA levels and fundamental motor skills (FMSs) of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants were assigned to one of the following three groups: (a) a parent-child group (n = 14), (b) a child group (n = 13), and (c) a control group (n = 13). After 8 weeks of intervention, the within-group comparison revealed a significant increase in PA levels and FMSs in children with autism spectrum disorder in the parent-child group and the child group (p < .001). The between-group comparison further showed that children in the parent-child group had statistically higher scores for PA levels and FMSs than children in the child and control groups (p < .001). These findings suggest that parent-child coparticipation in PA may be a promising component of family-based interventions to promote PA and facilitate the acquisition of FMSs among children with autism spectrum disorder.