Diagnosis-Specific Links Between Physical Activity and Sleep Duration in Youth with Disabilities
A Systematic Review with Quantitative Synthesis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15507010 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Janette M Watkins (0009-0001-5968-8730, Pennsylvania State University, corresponding author), Martin E Block (0000-0001-7934-8947, University of Virginia), Janelle M Goss (Pennsylvania State University), Emily M Munn (Indiana University Bloomington), Devan X Antczak (University of Wollongong) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 121-121 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph23010121 |
| PMID | 41595915 |
| OpenAlex | W7124717195 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 73 |
Children and adolescents with disabilities experience disproportionate challenges in achieving recommended levels of physical activity (PA) and adequate sleep, two core determinants of health and functional well-being. This systematic review examined associations between meeting PA guidelines and sleep duration among youth with disabilities. Following PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, and SPORTDiscus were searched through Spring 2024 for studies assessing PA and sleep in children and adolescents ( N = 138,016) and synthesized using qualitative methods and regression-based quantitative analyses to examine the effects of diagnosis category and PA guideline adherence on sleep duration. The diagnosis type was associated with sleep duration, with youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibiting shorter sleep than those with physical disabilities. Meeting PA guidelines (≥60 min/day) was associated with longer sleep duration among youth with ASD, but not consistently across other diagnostic groups. Qualitative findings further indicated diagnosis-specific variability, with PA positively associated with sleep outcomes in ASD, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and epilepsy, and mixed associations observed for cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. These findings suggest that PA may support sleep health in specific disability groups. Given persistently low PA participation among youth with disabilities, integrating accessible, diagnosis-specific PA opportunities within school, community, and clinical settings may represent a feasible strategy to improve sleep and overall health
Autism · Autism spectrum disorder · Cerebral palsy · Guideline · MEDLINE · Physical activity · Sleep (system call · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders · Down syndrome and intellectual disability research · Sleep and related disorders
Development of a critical appraisal tool to assess the quality of cross-sectional studies (Axis)
Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population
Sleep and exercise
A Re-Evaluation of Random-Effects Meta-Analysis
How should meta‐regression analyses be undertaken and interpreted?
The effects of physical activity on sleep
Participation of people living with disabilities in physical activity
Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses
The PRISMA 2020 statement
Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Exercise, Sleep, and Mood in Young Adults
Adherence to Life-Style Recommendations and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Assessment of Sleep-Related Problems in Children with Cerebral Palsy Using the SNAKE Sleep Questionnaire
Association between sleep habits and behavioral problems in early adolescence
Physical Activity Levels and Sleep in Schoolchildren (6–17) with and without School Sport
Sedentary behavior is associated with poor sleep quality during the Covid-19 pandemic, and physical activity mitigates its adverse effects
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |