WhatsApp-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Feasibility Trial

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Oğuz K. Esentürk Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University

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Erkan Yarımkaya Turkish Ministry of National Education

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2020-0109
Keywords:
exercise; social media; disability
First Published Online:
30 Jun 2021
In Print:
Volume 38: Issue 4
Page Range:
569–584
Restricted access

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of a WhatsApp-based physical activity for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fourteen parents and their children with ASD participated in the study. The intervention included parents conducting physical activities with their children with ASD for 4 weeks. Physical activity contents were provided to parents via the WhatsApp group. The data were collected through the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire and a feasibility questionnaire adapted from previous studies examining the feasibility of web-based physical activities. Parents reported that WhatsApp-based physical activities were a feasible intervention to increase the physical activity level of their children with ASD and stated that the contents of the physical activity shared in the WhatsApp group were useful. The findings provided preliminary evidence for the use of WhatsApp-based physical activities to increase the physical activity level of children with ASD who stay at home due to the pandemic.

Esentürk is with the School of Physical Education and Sports, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey. Yarımkaya is with the TOBB Örence Secondary School, Ministry of National Education, Bayburt, Turkey.

Esentürk (esenturk954@gmail.com) is corresponding author.
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