Dataset Information

Brief report: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviors in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is concern that the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect health behaviors in youth, especially youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Objective

The purpose of this paper was to examine changes in physical activity, screen-time, and sleep in adolescents with ASD due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Nine adolescents with ASD completed surveys measuring physical activity, screen-time, and sleep duration prior to and during the pandemic.

Results

A significant decrease in days of physical activity (4.17 vs 2.27; p = 0.0006), and a significant increase in hours of both weekday (3.69 vs 6.25; p = 0.007) and weekend screen-time (5.94 vs. 7.39; p = 0.004) was observed during the pandemic. No changes regarding sleep duration was observed.

Conclusions

Although preliminary, results suggest that physical activity and screen-time may be negatively affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in youth with ASD. The development of interventions to promote health behaviors in ASD populations during long periods of less-structured time (quarantine) should be considered.

SUBMITTER: Garcia JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9760178 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Brief report: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviors in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Garcia Jeanette M JM Lawrence Shawn S Brazendale Keith K Leahy Nicholas N Fukuda David D

Disability and health journal 20201105 2

<h4>Background</h4>There is concern that the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect health behaviors in youth, especially youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).<h4>Objective</h4>The purpose of this paper was to examine changes in physical activity, screen-time, and sleep in adolescents with ASD due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>Nine adolescents with ASD completed surveys measuring physical activity, screen-time, and sleep duration prior to and during the pandemic.<h4>Re ...[more]

PMID: 33221246

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Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for everyone, particularly for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a developmental disorder characterised by limitations in social communication, repetitive behavioural patterns, and limited interests, and activities. It is expected that many families with children with ASD will experience more problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related public health restrictions. At the same time, some may experience improved functioning, due to fewer expectations and social demands.Methods/designIn a mixed-method study to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of children with ASD (ages 4-21) who were in care pre-COVID-19 at one of three large mental healthcare institutions in the region of Rotterdam participated (68 for T0, 57 for T1). The aims are (1) to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall functioning and autistic symptoms of the child/adolescent with ASD, as well as parental and family functioning (QUANT-QUAL), in both the short term and longer term, and (2) to investigate risk and protective factors (in light of resilience) (QUANT-qual) and (3) to investigate care and informational needs (QUAL-quant). Pre-COVID-19 baseline data will be retrieved from clinical records. Participants will fill out two surveys (one during a COVID-19 peak-January-May 2021-and one thereafter). Survey participants were invited to participate in interviews (n=27). Surveys include measures thar were included pre-COVID-19 (ie, overall functioning and autism symptoms) as well as specific measures to identify family functioning and COVID-19 impact. The semistructured interviews focus on child, parent and family functioning and care-and informational needs.Ethics and disseminationThe Medical Ethics Committee of the Erasmus MC has approved the study. Findings will be available to families of children with ASD, their care providers, the funders, autism societies, the government and other researchers.

Dataset Information

Brief report: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviors in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Brief report: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviors in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Similar Datasets

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