The effect of a visual arts and exercise program on communication and social skills of students with autism spectrum disorders
ISSN: 2056-3868
Article publication date: 21 June 2023
Issue publication date: 8 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present challenges in their social and communication skills such as difficulties in developing interpersonal relationships and verbal and nonverbal communication; repetitive and restricted behaviors concerning resistance to environmental change, stereotyped movements and unusual reactions to sensory stimuli; and significant delays in motor development and performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a combined visual arts and exercise program on the communication and social behavior skills of people with ASD.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted in a Creative Employment Center of People with Disabilities, and the sample consisted of 18 participants with ASD divided randomly into a control group (CG) (n = 8) and an experiment group (EG) (n = 10). The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) was used prior and after the implementation of the intervention program. EG participants attended an intervention program, whereas CG individuals followed their daily routine activities, and they only completed the SCQ prior and after the program.
Findings
EG demonstrated statically significant improvements in communication skills and social behavior, compared to the results of the CG. Furthermore, participants with Asperger’s syndrome showed a higher improvement rate compared to participants with autism, while no statistically significant differences were noticed concerning gender and age of the participants.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to investigate the effect of a combined visual arts and adapted physical activity program on the social and communication skills of people with ASD.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The paper received ethics approval and consent to participate. The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The author received no funding.
Citation
Broupi, A.E., Kokaridas, D., Tsimaras, V. and Varsamis, P. (2023), "The effect of a visual arts and exercise program on communication and social skills of students with autism spectrum disorders", Advances in Autism, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 388-401. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-05-2022-0031
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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