Sufficient sleep duration in autistic children and the role of physical activity

Autism ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 136236132110536
Author(s):  
Stacey D Elkhatib Smidt ◽  
Nalaka Gooneratne ◽  
Edward S Brodkin ◽  
Maja Bucan ◽  
Jonathan A Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
The Past ◽  
Existing Data

Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity may be associated with improved sleep in autistic children. We aimed to determine whether physical activity associated with sufficient sleep duration in children and whether this association was modified by reported autism spectrum disorder (ASD) status. We analyzed existing data of children 6–17 years old whose caregivers completed the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (nonautistic N = 20,845; ASD N = 681). Logistic regression determined whether physical activity (days active in the past week) associated with sufficient sleep duration. Physical activity-by-ASD interactions were included to determine whether the association differed for autistic children. Physical activity-by-ASD-by-sex and physical activity-by-ASD-by-age-group interactions were also modeled. Physical activity was associated with increased odds of sufficient sleep duration (e.g. 0 days vs 4–6 days: odds ratio (OR) = 1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.48–2.32). We did not observe an overall statistically significant interaction between physical activity and reported ASD status; however, the positive association between physical activity and sufficient sleep duration was weaker in autistic children, especially those with more severe ASD, female autistic children, and autistic children ages 6–12 years old. In conclusion, physical activity is a promising approach to improve sufficient sleep duration but with nuanced findings in autistic children. Lay abstract Higher levels of physical activity may be associated with improved sleep in children, but this relationship is still being determined, especially in autistic children. In this study, we used existing data from the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health. Caregivers of children 6–17 years old, including caregivers of autistic children, completed a questionnaire that included questions about physical activity (days active in the past week) and sleep duration. We then determined if children were obtaining the recommended hours of sleep for their age (i.e. sufficient sleep). We found that higher physical activity levels were associated with sufficient sleep duration, but this finding was weaker in autistic children. In particular, this association was not observed in autistic children with more severe autism spectrum disorder, female autistic children, and autistic children 6–12 years old. In conclusion, physical activity is a promising approach to help children obtain sufficient sleep duration. However, more personalized approaches to improving sleep may be needed for certain groups of autistic children.

575 Sleep Duration in American Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Role of Physical Activity

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A227-A227
Author(s):  
Stacey Elkhatib Smidt ◽  
Nalaka Gooneratne ◽  
Edward Brodkin ◽  
Maja Bucan ◽  
Jonathan Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Caregiver Education ◽  
The Past ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
American Children

Abstract Introduction Sleep dysfunction is prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can have major daytime behavioral consequences. Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity may be associated with improved sleep in children, including those with ASD. We aimed to determine if there was an association between physical activity and sleep duration in American youth and if the association was consistent in children with and without ASD. Methods We analyzed data from children ages 6–17 years whose caregivers completed the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (N=20,980). ASD was self-reported (N=687), and we determined if reported ASD was mild, moderate, or severe, and if reported ASD occurred with intellectual disability (ID). Participants self-reported their weekday sleep duration and days of physical activity in the past week. We classified children as sleep sufficient or insufficient based on age-specific recommendations. Logistic regression was used to determine if physical activity and ASD were associated with sleep sufficiency. Physical activity-by-ASD interaction terms were used to determine if any physical activity association was modified by ASD status. Covariates included: age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, highest caregiver education level, and overweight status. Results Compared to children without ASD, children with ASD were 29% less likely to have sufficient sleep (OR=0.71; 95% CI: 0.52–0.99), but this association attenuated to the null after adjusting for physical activity (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.55–1.07). Compared to zero days, being physically active for 1–3, 4–6 or 7 days in the past week was associated with increased odds of sufficient sleep, even with adjustment for ASD status (e.g., 4–6 days: OR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.48–2.32). We did not observe a statistically significant interaction between physical activity and ASD status with respect to sleep sufficiency (P-interaction=0.571), which remained consistent when using ASD severity and ASD with ID exposure variables. Conclusion Physical activity was associated with increased odds of meeting age-specific sleep duration recommendations in children with and without ASD. Our observations support pursuing physical activity in future studies as a potential intervention target to improve sleep duration in children, including those with ASD. Support (if any) NIH T32HL07713 and University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics

The effectiveness of physical activity interventions on communication and social functioning in autistic children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of controlled trials

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 136236132097764
Author(s):  
John SY Chan ◽  
Kanfeng Deng ◽  
Jin H Yan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions

Difficulty with communication and social functioning are two outstanding core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, and physical activity has long been suggested to improve autism spectrum disorder symptoms. In this meta-analysis of controlled trials, we examined the effects of physical activity interventions compared to controls on communication and social functioning in autistic children and adolescents. Included studies are published articles in English with autism spectrum disorder participants younger than 18 years. Literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and related databases through 6 May 2020. Quality of study was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool regarding randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, attrition, and selective reporting. We included 12 controlled trials ( N = 350) with communication outcomes ( k = 8) and/or social functioning outcomes ( k = 11). Results show small to moderate intervention benefits on communication (standardized mean change = 0.27, 95% confidence interval (0.06, 0.48)) and social functioning (standardized mean change = 0.39, 95% confidence interval (0.15, 0.63)), but the result for social functioning may be susceptible to publication bias. Better intervention outcomes are observed in younger participants, suggesting the importance of early participation. This study shows the benefits of physical activity interventions, and they could be considered a cost-effective means for autism spectrum disorder management in the future. Lay abstract Difficulty with communication and social functioning are two outstanding core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, while there is no efficacious pharmacologic treatment available to deal with them. Traditional behavioral therapies usually require specialist therapist and be conducted in specific settings, increasing burdens on families and individuals with autism. Physical activity has long been found to promote physical and mental well-beings, and it is more affordable and versatile than traditional therapies. There is preliminary support for the use of physical activity interventions to improve communication and social functioning in individuals with autism. In this study, we quantitatively aggregate data from existing controlled trials to provide an up-to-date inquiry into the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on communication and social functioning in autistic children and adolescents. We included 12 trials involving 350 participants (8 trials reported communication outcomes and 11 trials reported social functioning outcomes) and found small to moderate benefits on communication and social functioning. Further analyses showed that the benefit of physical activity interventions is greater in younger participants. Results of this study suggest that physical activity interventions are effective to improve communication and social functioning in autistic children and adolescents, and early participation in the interventions can be more beneficial. Given their affordability, versatility, and efficacy, physical activity interventions could be considered a cost-effective option for autism spectrum disorder management in the future.

scholarly journals Food insecurity in the households of children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities in the United States: Analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health Data 2016–2018

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110191
Author(s):  
Arun Karpur ◽  
Vijay Vasudevan ◽  
Angela Lello ◽  
Thomas W Frazier ◽  
Andy Shih
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring intellectual disabilities experience substantial challenges in accessing needed supports. This research aimed to understand the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity among families of children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Utilizing the National Survey of Children’s Health (2016–2018) data, this article illustrated that the households of children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring intellectual disabilities were about two times more likely to be food insecure than the households of children without disabilities. Furthermore, the households of children with autism spectrum disorder were 1.5 times more likely, and those with other disabilities were 1.3 times more likely to be food insecure than the households of children without disabilities. Implications of these findings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed. Lay abstract Families of children with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to experience financial strain and resulting food insecurity due to additional cost of care, disparate access to needed services, and loss of income resulting from parental job loss. Utilizing nationally representative data, this analysis indicates that the families of children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring intellectual disabilities are twice as likely to experience food insecurity than families of children without disabilities after adjusting for various factors. Several factors, ranging from state-level policies such as Medicaid expansion to individual-level factors such as higher utilization of emergency room services, were associated with the higher prevalence of food insecurity in families of children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Implications of these findings on programs and policies supporting families in the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

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