Leisure Activity Enjoyment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Megan Eversole; Diane M Collins; Amol Karmarkar; Lisa Colton; Jill Phillips Quinn; Rita Karsbaek; Jessica Reinken Johnson; Nicolle Patricia Callier; Claudia L Hilton

doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2529-z

Leisure Activity Enjoyment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Jan;46(1):10-20. doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2529-z.

Authors

Megan Eversole¹, Diane M Collins², Amol Karmarkar³, Lisa Colton⁴, Jill Phillips Quinn⁵, Rita Karsbaek⁶, Jessica Reinken Johnson⁷, Nicolle Patricia Callier⁸, Claudia L Hilton⁹

Affiliations

¹ Occupational Therapy Department, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
² Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
³ Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
⁴ Occupational Therapy Department, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁵ Occupational Therapy Department, Family Service Madison, Bridges Birth to Three, Madison, WI, USA.
⁶ Occupational Therapy Department, Physiotherapy Associates, St. Charles, IL, USA.
⁷ Occupational Therapy Department, Therapy Relief, Chesterfield, MO, USA.
⁸ Occupational Therapy Department, PSKids, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁹ Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. clhilton@utmb.edu.

PMID: 26210514
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2529-z

Abstract

Enjoyment is a fundamental component of activity participation. This study compared leisure activity enjoyment experienced by typically developing children (TD; n = 64) and those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; n = 67) from age 6 to 13. The TD children enjoyed formal and physical activities significantly more than the children with ASD. Symptom severity was negatively related to enjoyment of overall, formal, physical and social activities. Older children with ASD enjoyed overall, informal, recreational, and self-improvement activities significantly less than younger children, but no differences were seen across TD age groups. Children with ASD enjoyed swimming significantly more than TD children. Understanding patterns of activity enjoyment is useful for being better able to address a child's motivation to participate in various life activities.

Keywords: Activity enjoyment; Autism spectrum disorders; Motivation.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child Development*
Female
Happiness
Humans
Leisure Activities / psychology*
Male
Pleasure*
Recreation / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires