The impact of the physical activity intervention on sleep in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize empirical studies on the effects of physical activity interventions on sleep in children and adolescents with ASD, comparing them to pharmacological treatments like melatonin.
Results Summary
The study found that physical activity interventions had a large positive effect on various sleep parameters in children and adolescents with ASD, though melatonin's specific efficacy was not detailed in the abstract.
Population
Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | increase | sleep | children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) | - | result in improved sleep | #1 |
parent-based sleep education programs | increase | sleep | children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) | - | result in improved sleep | #2 |
behavioural interventions | increase | sleep | children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) | - | result in improved sleep | #3 |
Physical activity (PA) intervention | decrease | parent-reported general sleep problems | children and adolescents with ASD | - | had a large positive effect on | #4 |
Physical activity (PA) intervention | decrease | night awakenings | children and adolescents with ASD | - | had a large positive effect on | #5 |
Physical activity (PA) intervention | decrease | sleep resistance | children and adolescents with ASD | - | had a large positive effect on | #6 |
Physical activity (PA) intervention | increase | sleep duration | children and adolescents with ASD | - | had a large positive effect on | #7 |
Physical activity (PA) intervention | increase | actigraphy-assessed sleep efficiency | children and adolescents with ASD | - | had a large positive effect on | #8 |
Pharmacological treatments (i.e., melatonin) and non-pharmacological therapies (e.g., parent-based sleep education programs and behavioural interventions) have been found to result in improved sleep in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there are several limitations to these treatment approaches, including concerns about the possible side-effects and safety, high-cost and uncertainties of long-term effects. Physical activity (PA) intervention is a promising behavioural intervention that has received increasing attention. However, the effects of PA intervention on sleep are still unclear in this clinical group. This study aimed to synthesize available empirical studies concerning the effects of PA interventions on sleep in children and adolescents with ASD. Following PRISMA guidelines, seven electronic databases: APA PsychInfo, CINAHL Ultimate, ERIC, MEDLINE, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, were searched from inception to March 2023. Randomized controlled trials/quasi-experimental designs with comparison groups were included. Initially, 444 articles were identified, 13 articles underwent systematic review, and 8 studies with control groups and sufficient statistical data were selected for meta-analysis. Compared to no-treatment control groups, PA interventions had a large positive effect on parent-reported general sleep problems, night awakenings, sleep resistance, sleep duration and actigraphy-assessed sleep efficiency in children and adolescents with ASD.