Most parents of autistic teenagers want the same thing: for their child to be active, healthy, and included. But new research from Canada suggests that for many autistic adolescents, regular physical activity remains out of reach, shaped by factors that go well beyond individual motivation or ability.
A study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders surveyed 306 parents of autistic adolescents aged 12 to 19 in Ontario, Canada, asking them to report on their child’s physical activity habits over the preceding year. The findings reveal a picture that is both nuanced and concerning, with sex, family income, and the number of siblings in the household all playing a significant role in how active autistic young people are.
Walking and swimming were among the most commonly reported activities, with 75% of adolescents participating in at least one of 18 identified free play activities. Despite this, overall physical activity levels fell short of recommended guidelines, which call for at least 60 minutes of moderate activity per day. Autistic adolescents consistently fall below these benchmarks compared to their neurotypical peers, and the gap tends to widen as they get older.
One of the more striking findings was the difference between male and female autistic adolescents. Boys reported significantly higher levels of free play activity than girls, reinforcing concerns that autistic females are being left behind in both research and practice. Studies with autistic women in adulthood have found that negative experiences of physical activity during their teenage years put many of them off exercise well into later life.
The number of siblings in a household was also found to matter. Adolescents with more siblings were less likely to participate in free play activities, a finding the researchers suggest may reflect competing demands on family time and resources. Therapeutic appointments and the general pressures of raising an autistic child can leave parents with little capacity to facilitate sport or structured exercise for all their children.
Income shaped activity in more complex ways. Higher-earning families were more likely to participate in activities such as martial arts, fishing, and paddling, while dancing and exercise classes were more common in lower-income households. Crucially, adolescents from higher-income families also recorded greater levels of sedentary behaviour, which the researchers attributed in part to greater access to screens and electronic devices.
Parental education was linked to sedentary behaviour as well. The more educated the parents, the less sedentary their children tended to be, pointing to the important role that parental awareness, confidence, and support play in encouraging autistic teenagers to stay active.
The authors call for tailored programmes and policies that reflect the real sociodemographic circumstances of autistic adolescents and their families. They argue that sibling-inclusive interventions and parent-mediated approaches could make a meaningful difference, particularly for groups currently underserved by existing provision.
The research was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic and is limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on parent-reported data, but it offers a valuable and detailed snapshot of physical activity among autistic teenagers in a Canadian context.