Mental Health & Physical Activity
Addressing the Mental Health of Neuro Diverse Youth: The Role of Community-Based Adapted Physical Activity Programming
Neuro-diverse youth (e.g., autism, intellectual disability) experience more mental health problems than their neurotypical peers, with 50-90% reporting anxiety and depression symptoms. Poor mental health is associated with difficulties in school and peer relationships, lower quality of life, and premature mortality. Physical activity (PA) is one accessible and modifiable lifestyle factor that has been shown to improve the mental health among neuro-diverse youth.
The low PA rates among neuro-diverse youth are likely due to the several barriers that this population experiences to PA. To address these barriers, community-based adapted PA programs are becoming more common. In the general population, it is well established that PA programs can improve anxiety and depression, as well as self-esteem, quality of life and resilience. However, the impact of community-based adapted PA programs on the mental health of neuro-diverse youth is unknown.
Study Partners
- ACHF
- CAH (Jumpstart)
- Community Sport Partners
Who is participating?
Individuals who: 1) are 14-25 years of age; 2) have a neurodevelopmental disability (e.g., Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, etc.); 3) communicate in English; and 4) are taking part in a community-based physical activity program.
What are participants doing?
- Participants are asked to take part in pre-program, immediately post-program, and 3-month follow-up measures (3 time points) for each of the following outcomes:
- Physical Activity & Sleep Monitor (wear an activity tracker for 1 week at each time point, during the day and night)
- Survey (Complete a short battery of questionnaires about your mental health at each time point, quality of life, resilience, self-esteem, and strengths & difficulties)
- Physical Literacy Assessment (You may be asked to complete a short 10 minute assessment with a member of our research team to show off your physical literacy abilities, at each of the 3 time points).
- Participants may be asked to take part in a one-time interview with a member of our research team, about your physical activity, social, and mental health experiences, this may take 30-60 minutes to complete.