Barriers and facilitators to sports participation in autistic Europeans: insights from a large-scale questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND: Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting both social interactions and individual motor coordination with a wide spectrum of characteristics and support needs varying significantly across individuals. Given the increasing prevalence of autism, effective interventions are crucial to improving quality of life. Physical activity has been recognized as a valuable tool for enhancing physical fitness and reducing autism-related traits, such as repetitive behaviors and social difficulties. However, autistic individuals tend to be less active than non-autistic. The SACREE Sport & Autism project, part of the European ERASMUS + initiative, aims to bridge the gap between standard sports recommendations and autistic individuals' needs. This study seeks to provide an overview of sports participation among autistic Europeans and identify factors influencing their engagement in physical activities.

METHOD: Using an online questionnaire translated into five languages, data was collected from 540 respondents across several European countries. Most responses were provided by parents or caregivers (64.3%), while 25.5% came directly from autistic individuals.

RESULTS: Findings revealed that 71.2% of respondents engage in regular physical activity, with an average of 2.45 sessions per week lasting approximately 65 min each. Individual sports dominate, comprising 79% of reported activities, with aquatic exercises being the most common. While many participants acknowledge the benefits of physical activity, 74% believe that sports are not sufficiently accessible for autistic individuals. The primary reasons for non-participation include a lack of suitable facilities (54.1%) and uncertainty about where to practice (22.2%).

CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the importance of structured physical activity in improving both physical health and autism-specific characteristics. However, the findings highlight discrepancies between current practices and recommended physical activity levels. Increased accessibility to adapted sports programs, better awareness campaigns, and policy reforms are needed to encourage greater participation. Furthermore, the study suggests that practice type plays a key role, with individual, predictable activities being preferred over dynamic, team-based sports. By shedding light on sports habits among autistic individuals, this research provides a foundation for tailored interventions and public policies aimed at fostering an inclusive and sustainable sports culture across Europe.