Engagement of Children with Moderate and High Support Needs Autism in Motor Program Sessions.

AbstractAimsMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study examined engagement during one-on-one motor program sessions for children with moderate and high support needs (MHS) autism by: (1) systematically coding child behaviors as on-task or off-task, and (2) exploring therapist-reported strategies to facilit...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics pp. 1 - 20
Autores principales: Svensson, Lee, Stylianou, Michalis, Hill, Jessica, Wilson, Lucille, Trost, Stewart G., Cairney, John
Formato: Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Sep2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=196686402&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 196686402
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        01942638
        PTP
      jtl: Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
      issn: 01942638
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Sep2026
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        196686402
        10.1080/01942638.2026.2722992
        196686402
      ppf: 1
      ppct: 19
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Engagement of Children with Moderate and High Support Needs Autism in Motor Program Sessions.
      aug:
        au:
          Svensson, Lee
          Stylianou, Michalis
          Hill, Jessica
          Wilson, Lucille
          Trost, Stewart G.
          Cairney, John
        affil: School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland
      sug:
      ab: AbstractAimsMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study examined engagement during one-on-one motor program sessions for children with moderate and high support needs (MHS) autism by: (1) systematically coding child behaviors as on-task or off-task, and (2) exploring therapist-reported strategies to facilitate engagement.Nine children (4–10 years) with MHS autism participated in a 13 week, twice-weekly motor program. All sessions were video recorded. A bespoke observational coding system was developed to measure gross motor skill practice, achieving interrater reliability (ICC = 0.927). A stratified sample of 27 sessions was coded. Eleven exercise physiologists completed semi-structured interviews at two timepoints, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.Children spent an average of 29.6% of session time in motor skill practice. Off-task periods involved sensory-seeking, co-regulation, avoidance, and exploratory or social behaviors. Interview analysis identified one overarching theme—<italic>attuning to the child</italic>—with subthemes describing the importance of the therapeutic relationship and prioritizing the child’s needs. Sessions were adapted according to each child’s cues, communication style, and regulatory needs.Findings highlight the central role of relational and regulatory processes in supporting engagement for children with MHS autism and emphasize the need for further research on mechanisms of change and therapists’ moment-to-moment decision-making.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N