The Role of Sports and Physical Activity in the Social Development of Individuals with Autism

The aim of this study is to examine studies on the effects of sport and physical activity on social skills in individuals with autism. In this context, academic studies published between 2000 and 2024 on the subject were analyzed and the contributions of sports and physical activity to the social development of individuals with autism were discussed. In the research, graduate thesis studies, articles and books directly related to the subject were examined. These studies were taken from Google academic and national thesis center. Descriptive analysis and content analysis techniques were used to reveal the existing situation. The effects of sports and physical activity on social skills were evaluated by using document analysis method in data collection. As a result of the literature review, 34 scientific studies directly examining the effects of sports and physical activity on social skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder were found. According to the findings obtained as a result of the examination of the existing studies in the literature, it was determined that sports and physical activity have positive effects on social skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that sports and physical activities reduced hyperactivity and aggressive behaviors of individuals with autism, contributed to the development of social interaction and communication skills, contributed to the improvement of perception status with increased eye contact and played an important role in the development of social skills. In conclusion, attention should be paid to individual differences and characteristics in the preparation of sports and physical activity activities to improve the social skills of individuals with autism. It is thought that this study will contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of sports and physical activity on social skills in individuals with autism and to the research to be conducted on the subject in the future.