The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness
Abstract Research on the relationship between core and comorbid features in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly executive function, remains limited. Additionally, the role of physical fitness in supporting ASD children’s growth and development appears critical. This study inve...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94334-1 |
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| author | Qiang Wang Shuqi Jia Zhidong Cai Wanting Jiang Xing Wang Jing Wang |
| author_facet | Qiang Wang Shuqi Jia Zhidong Cai Wanting Jiang Xing Wang Jing Wang |
| author_sort | Qiang Wang |
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| description | Abstract Research on the relationship between core and comorbid features in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly executive function, remains limited. Additionally, the role of physical fitness in supporting ASD children’s growth and development appears critical. This study investigates the relationship between executive function, social skills, and physical health in children with ASD. A total of 428 male participants were enrolled, including 117 diagnosed with ASD (mean age: 10.25 ± 1.481 years) and 311 with typical development (mean age: 9.56 ± 1.261 years). The results showed that children with ASD had significantly lower executive function and social interaction abilities than those with typical development (P < 0.05). A strong correlation was found between executive function and social skills (first canonical correlation coefficient: 0.641, P < 0.001), with 20.4% of the variation in social abilities explained by executive function. Specifically, emotional control, working memory, social perception, social cognition, and autistic behaviors influenced ASD children’s development. While balance did not correlate significantly with physical fitness (P > 0.05), muscle strength showed a stronger effect (r = -0.485 to -0.535, P < 0.05). Improving physical fitness may help alleviate deficits in executive function and social skills. These findings provide early insights into the relationship between executive function and social skills in ASD, emphasizing the potential role of physical activity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f66a1c03c344f8fbd4e1f0421c7e8b0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f66a1c03c344f8fbd4e1f0421c7e8b02025-08-20T02:49:32ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-94334-1The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitnessQiang Wang0Shuqi Jia1Zhidong Cai2Wanting Jiang3Xing Wang4Jing Wang5School of Athletic Performance, Guangdong Vocational Institute of SportSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportPhysical Education Department, Suzhou University of Science and TechnologySchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Physical Education and Health, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and FinanceAbstract Research on the relationship between core and comorbid features in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly executive function, remains limited. Additionally, the role of physical fitness in supporting ASD children’s growth and development appears critical. This study investigates the relationship between executive function, social skills, and physical health in children with ASD. A total of 428 male participants were enrolled, including 117 diagnosed with ASD (mean age: 10.25 ± 1.481 years) and 311 with typical development (mean age: 9.56 ± 1.261 years). The results showed that children with ASD had significantly lower executive function and social interaction abilities than those with typical development (P < 0.05). A strong correlation was found between executive function and social skills (first canonical correlation coefficient: 0.641, P < 0.001), with 20.4% of the variation in social abilities explained by executive function. Specifically, emotional control, working memory, social perception, social cognition, and autistic behaviors influenced ASD children’s development. While balance did not correlate significantly with physical fitness (P > 0.05), muscle strength showed a stronger effect (r = -0.485 to -0.535, P < 0.05). Improving physical fitness may help alleviate deficits in executive function and social skills. These findings provide early insights into the relationship between executive function and social skills in ASD, emphasizing the potential role of physical activity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94334-1Executive functionSocial skillPhysical fitnessAutismRelationship |
| spellingShingle | Qiang Wang Shuqi Jia Zhidong Cai Wanting Jiang Xing Wang Jing Wang The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness Scientific Reports Executive function Social skill Physical fitness Autism Relationship |
| title | The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness |
| title_full | The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness |
| title_fullStr | The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness |
| title_short | The canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness |
| title_sort | canonical correlation between executive function and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder and potential pathways to physical fitness |
| topic | Executive function Social skill Physical fitness Autism Relationship |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94334-1 |
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