Exploring the Associations Between Physical Activity and Happiness in Children with Autism: The Mediating Role of Mental Health

The connections between physical activity and happiness in children with autism are relatively unexplored. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the relationships between objective physical activity and happiness in children with autism, considering mental health as a potential mediator. The present study employed a cross-sectional descriptive-correlational approach. A sample of 68 children with autism (average age 11.28 years) from Gorgan, Iran, was selected in 2022 through convenience sampling. The ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer was used to objectively measure physical activity. The Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were employed to assess happiness and mental health, respectively. The Pearson correlation test and structural equation modeling was utilized for data analysis. The children did not adhere to the recommended guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. Sedentary time was found to have a significant negative correlation with happiness (r=-0.561, P<0.001). Conversely, MVPA showed a significant positive correlation with happiness (r=0.851, P<0.001). In addition, MVPA exhibited a significant negative correlation with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and stress (r=-0.729, P<0.001). Lastly, mental health was found to significantly mediate the relationship between MVPA and happiness (z=8.148, P<0.001). High-intensity physical activity is positively associated with the happiness and mental health of children with autism. Therefore, physical education teachers and sports coaches are encouraged to incorporate high-intensity physical activities into their lesson plans to promote the well-being of children with autism.