Effect of a Service-Learning Program on the Active Lifestyle of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

Teresa Valverde-Esteve, Oscar Chiva-Bartoll, Celina Salvador-García and María Maravé-Vivas
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Teresa Valverde-Esteve: Department of Didactics of Music, Visual and Body Expression, University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Oscar Chiva-Bartoll: Department of Education and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
Celina Salvador-García: Department of Education and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
María Maravé-Vivas: Department of Education and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Background: active lifestyles and Physical Activity (PA) are closely related to health. Healthy habits such as being physically active should be consolidated during childhood. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) present fewer opportunities to be involved in PA. For this reason, we conducted a Service-Learning (SL) program to enhance the possibility of participating ASD children enjoying PA sessions. The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the evolution in terms of the frequency and intensity of PA performed by ASD children who participated in the SL program. Methods: we used a quasi-experimental design. The sample was formed by 26 children with ASD (Experimental group: n = 16; 4 girls, 12 boys) (Control group: n = 10; 1 girl, 9 boys) with ASD level 1. Results: after the intervention program, moderate PA during the week increased significantly (Pre-Median: 92.04, Range: 35.71–126.47 min; Post-Median: 212.67, Range: 99.75, 271.04 min) ( p ≤ 0.001). When comparing both groups, the tendency to do PA in the Experimental group remained more stable. Also, the improvements in moderate intensities were higher in the Experimental group after the intervention. Conclusion: a six-month SL program improved the moderate PA routines of ASD children. However, longer programs and longitudinal studies are required.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorders; physical activity; service learning; accelerometers; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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