Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis
Abstract Background In response to current research trends emphasizing training programs to develop daily living skills in autistic children, this study employs a meta-analysis to explore the impact of group-based organized physical activity (GBOPA) on the social abilities of autistic children from...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01787-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849767255674454016 |
|---|---|
| author | Jinrong He Yikang Gong Mingyue Yin Lei Zhang Xueping Wu |
| author_facet | Jinrong He Yikang Gong Mingyue Yin Lei Zhang Xueping Wu |
| author_sort | Jinrong He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In response to current research trends emphasizing training programs to develop daily living skills in autistic children, this study employs a meta-analysis to explore the impact of group-based organized physical activity (GBOPA) on the social abilities of autistic children from multiple perspectives and further investigates its dose‒response relationship to define the “optimal” dose. Methods We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies and screen their references. The effect size was calculated via Hedges’ g, and three-level random effects models were constructed via the metafor package in R. Moderation and regression analyses were conducted to explore significant influencing factors. Results This study included 24 articles from ten countries and included 1,042 participants (aged 4.56–11.11 years). The meta-analysis results clearly show that GBOPA can significantly improve social abilities (g = 0.48, Q = 114.84), including social functioning (g = 0.50, Q = 62.97) and communication (g = 0.37, Q = 48.07), in autistic children. Moderation analysis indicated that different age groups and training frequencies significantly affected social ability (between-group difference: p < 0.05). Specifically, interventions for early childhood children (g = 0.65) and a frequency of five sessions per week (g = 0.69) significantly enhanced the training effects on social ability. The multivariate meta-regression analysis results suggest that the optimal intervention for improving social ability in autistic children consists of 40 training sessions, each lasting 50 min. Conclusions GBOPA can improve the social abilities of autistic children, including social functioning and communication. On the basis of existing evidence, GBOPA should be prioritized for early childhood autistic children (5 sessions per week, 50 min per session), followed by a transition to a maintenance intervention strategy (1–2 sessions per week) after completing the 8-week foundational cycle (a total of 2,000 min of exercise). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e89f809a075b4e91a19da0e1b1b4ac87 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj-art-e89f809a075b4e91a19da0e1b1b4ac872025-08-20T03:04:17ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682025-07-0122111310.1186/s12966-025-01787-8Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysisJinrong He0Yikang Gong1Mingyue Yin2Lei Zhang3Xueping Wu4School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of SportAbstract Background In response to current research trends emphasizing training programs to develop daily living skills in autistic children, this study employs a meta-analysis to explore the impact of group-based organized physical activity (GBOPA) on the social abilities of autistic children from multiple perspectives and further investigates its dose‒response relationship to define the “optimal” dose. Methods We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies and screen their references. The effect size was calculated via Hedges’ g, and three-level random effects models were constructed via the metafor package in R. Moderation and regression analyses were conducted to explore significant influencing factors. Results This study included 24 articles from ten countries and included 1,042 participants (aged 4.56–11.11 years). The meta-analysis results clearly show that GBOPA can significantly improve social abilities (g = 0.48, Q = 114.84), including social functioning (g = 0.50, Q = 62.97) and communication (g = 0.37, Q = 48.07), in autistic children. Moderation analysis indicated that different age groups and training frequencies significantly affected social ability (between-group difference: p < 0.05). Specifically, interventions for early childhood children (g = 0.65) and a frequency of five sessions per week (g = 0.69) significantly enhanced the training effects on social ability. The multivariate meta-regression analysis results suggest that the optimal intervention for improving social ability in autistic children consists of 40 training sessions, each lasting 50 min. Conclusions GBOPA can improve the social abilities of autistic children, including social functioning and communication. On the basis of existing evidence, GBOPA should be prioritized for early childhood autistic children (5 sessions per week, 50 min per session), followed by a transition to a maintenance intervention strategy (1–2 sessions per week) after completing the 8-week foundational cycle (a total of 2,000 min of exercise).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01787-8Group-based organized physical activitySocial abilitiesAutistic childrenMeta-analysis |
| spellingShingle | Jinrong He Yikang Gong Mingyue Yin Lei Zhang Xueping Wu Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Group-based organized physical activity Social abilities Autistic children Meta-analysis |
| title | Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis |
| title_full | Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis |
| title_short | Optimal dosage of group-based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children: insights from a multilevel meta-analysis |
| title_sort | optimal dosage of group based organized physical activity for enhancing social abilities in autistic children insights from a multilevel meta analysis |
| topic | Group-based organized physical activity Social abilities Autistic children Meta-analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01787-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jinronghe optimaldosageofgroupbasedorganizedphysicalactivityforenhancingsocialabilitiesinautisticchildreninsightsfromamultilevelmetaanalysis AT yikanggong optimaldosageofgroupbasedorganizedphysicalactivityforenhancingsocialabilitiesinautisticchildreninsightsfromamultilevelmetaanalysis AT mingyueyin optimaldosageofgroupbasedorganizedphysicalactivityforenhancingsocialabilitiesinautisticchildreninsightsfromamultilevelmetaanalysis AT leizhang optimaldosageofgroupbasedorganizedphysicalactivityforenhancingsocialabilitiesinautisticchildreninsightsfromamultilevelmetaanalysis AT xuepingwu optimaldosageofgroupbasedorganizedphysicalactivityforenhancingsocialabilitiesinautisticchildreninsightsfromamultilevelmetaanalysis |