‘Have a go, you might surprise yourself’: a qualitative study of the experiences of autistic adolescents and young adults of a community gym-based exercise programme
Key Points
This research aims to understand the experiences of autistic adolescents and young adults participating in a gym-based exercise program.
Conducted a qualitative study with autistic adolescents and young adults
Utilized student mentorship to facilitate gym participation
Identified barriers to exercise through participant interviews
Participants reported increased confidence in navigating gym environments
Improved social interactions were noted among participants
Exercise was seen as a means to enhance overall well-being
Abstract
A student-mentored community-based program can facilitate Autistic young people to exercise, by overcoming barriers to their participation and supporting them to navigate the community gym environment.