An Investigation of Sleep and Physical Activity in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention

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atmire.migration.oldid5578
dc.contributor.advisorWerthner, Penny
dc.contributor.advisorClarke, Margaret
dc.contributor.authorBenson, Sarah
dc.contributor.committeememberMillet, Guillaume
dc.contributor.committeememberBray, Signe
dc.contributor.committeememberCharles, Samuels
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-09T21:39:45Z
dc.date.available2017-05-09T21:39:45Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.date.submitted2017en
dc.description.abstractBackground: Physical inactivity, motor coordination difficulties, and sleep problems are often present in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep problems seem to persist into young adulthood. Physical activity (PA) may positively impact both sleep and daytime behaviour. Objectives: The first part of the study investigated sleep, sleepiness, and PA in 15 young adults (age 18-35 years old) with ASD compared to typically developing controls (TDC). The second part of the study investigated the effects of a 15-week PA intervention on PA levels, gross motor proficiency, daytime functioning, and sleep in 12 of the young adults with ASD. Methods: Young adults with an autism diagnosis (inclusive of all levels of functioning) and TDC wore a wrist-worn actigraph to gather objective PA and sleep data. Questionnaires on sleep, sleepiness, and PA were completed through participant or parent-report. Further, the ASD sample completed a daytime functioning measure, gross motor proficiency, and autism symptom severity assessment. Results: The ASD group had more sleep duration but took longer to fall asleep than TDC. Objective PA levels were lower in the ASD sample, but those with more PA had increased sleepiness and earlier bedtimes and wake times. Fewer wake minutes during the sleep period in the ASD group were associated with more PA the following day. Results included an autism symptom severity by time interaction effect for objective PA, an improvement in subjective sleep quality, a reduction in behaviour problems - specifically Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (AD/H) problems - and an improvement in physical strength. Correlations were found between objective PA and bilateral coordination, AD/H, and antisocial personality problems. Conclusion: Our findings support previous research that demonstrates differences in sleep parameters and PA between ASD and TDC. Interventions aimed at increasing PA in ASD may be beneficial for sleep and more PA the following day. These findings indicate the potential benefit of group-based PA interventions on PA level, gross motor proficiency, daytime functioning, and sleep in young adults with ASD.en_US
dc.identifier.citationBenson, S. (2017). An Investigation of Sleep and Physical Activity in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24915en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/24915
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/3816
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.facultyKinesiology
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectPhysiology
dc.subjectRehabilitation and Therapy
dc.subjectPsychology--Developmental
dc.subjectPsychology--Experimental
dc.subject.otherAutism Spectrum Disorder
dc.subject.otherSleep
dc.subject.otherPhysical Activity
dc.subject.otherSleepiness
dc.subject.otherActigraphy
dc.titleAn Investigation of Sleep and Physical Activity in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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