TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining the impact of physical activity on sleep quality and executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Tse, Choi Yeung Andy
AU - Lee, Hong Paul
AU - Chan, Ka Shing Kevin
AU - Edgar, Veronica Bordes
AU - Wilkinson-Smith, Alison
AU - Lai, Wing Him Elvis
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Sleep disturbance and executive dysfunction have been widely reported in children with autism spectrum disorder. While the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality and cognition are documented in children with typical development, similar studies in children with autism spectrum disorder are scarce. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of physical activity on sleep quality and cognition in children with autism spectrum disorder. A total of 40 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (mean age = 9.95 years) were randomly assigned into two groups: physical activity intervention and control. Four sleep parameters (sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and wake after sleep onset) and two executive functions (inhibition control and working memory) were assessed. Results revealed a significant improvement in sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and sleep duration in the intervention group but not in the control group during weekdays. Moreover, a significant improvement in inhibitory control was shown in the intervention group but not in the control group. No significant improvement in working memory capacity was documented in either group (ps > 0.05). Our findings highlight the value of physical activity in improving sleep quality and cognition among children with autism spectrum disorder, but specific physical activity may be required to benefit individual executive functions.
AB - Sleep disturbance and executive dysfunction have been widely reported in children with autism spectrum disorder. While the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality and cognition are documented in children with typical development, similar studies in children with autism spectrum disorder are scarce. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of physical activity on sleep quality and cognition in children with autism spectrum disorder. A total of 40 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (mean age = 9.95 years) were randomly assigned into two groups: physical activity intervention and control. Four sleep parameters (sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and wake after sleep onset) and two executive functions (inhibition control and working memory) were assessed. Results revealed a significant improvement in sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and sleep duration in the intervention group but not in the control group during weekdays. Moreover, a significant improvement in inhibitory control was shown in the intervention group but not in the control group. No significant improvement in working memory capacity was documented in either group (ps > 0.05). Our findings highlight the value of physical activity in improving sleep quality and cognition among children with autism spectrum disorder, but specific physical activity may be required to benefit individual executive functions.
KW - autism spectrum disorder
KW - children
KW - inhibition control
KW - physical activity
KW - sleep
KW - working memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060678041&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1362361318823910
DO - 10.1177/1362361318823910
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30663324
AN - SCOPUS:85060678041
SN - 1362-3613
VL - 23
SP - 1699
EP - 1710
JO - Autism
JF - Autism
IS - 7
ER -