Modified and Context-Focused Sports Intervention in Adolescents With Autism: Study Protocol

Summary

Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) typically engage less in physical activities than their typically developing peers, influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Modified sports interventions, like Sports Stars Brazil, can improve motor skills and promote lifelong participation in sports by enhancing physical, social, and cognitive abilities. However, adolescents often face barriers to engaging in community sports and recreational activities after completing the program. PREP is an approach designed to address these barriers by modifying environments and empowering families. To date, no study has explored this combination in adolescents with ASD. Objective: This protocol assesses the effectiveness of combining Sports Stars Brazil with PREP to enhance participation and physical literacy in adolescents with ASD and explores participant and family perceptions. Method: A mixed-methods study with two phases: 1) a randomized controlled trial to investigate combined intervention's effects; and 2) evaluation of participant and family perceptions.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sports Stars Brazil

Modified sports interventions promote physical activity participation in individuals with ASD by addressing intrinsic factors, however they do not address contextual barriers, such as environmental and interpersonal factors, which also influence participation. Factors like bullying, parents' perceptions often prioritizing therapy intervention, and challenges faced in community programs (as the lack of adaptations in existing programs to meet their needs) are some of these obstacles, which reduce adherence to physical activities (Jachyra et al., 2021). Therefore, it may be necessary to combine interventions targeting intrinsic factors, such as Sports Stars, with those that address the extrinsic contextual factors impacting the participation of adolescents with ASD in their community.

BEHAVIORAL

context-centered therapy

The complimentary approach of combining intrinsic (Sports Stars) and extrinsic (PREP) interventions aligns with the relationships between the person, their environment, and the quantity and quality of their participation proposed in the "family of participation related constructs (Imms et al., 2017)." By recognizing that participation depends on both the individual's abilities and the contexts and conditions in which it occurs, professionals can adopt a more holistic and tailored approach to individual needs (Imms et al., 2015).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Minas Gerais

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hércules R Leite, Doctor · Federal University of Minas Gerais

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-01

Primary Completion

2026-09-01

Completion

2027-06-01

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations