Effects of a multicomponent sport-based intervention incorporating parent–child and peer interaction on social impairment and stereotyped behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves persistent social-communication difficulties and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Evidence remains limited for programs integrating physical games with both parent–child and peer interaction. This study compared a multicomponent sport-based program incorporating mother–child and peer interaction with fundamental movement skill training in Han Chinese boys aged 7–10 years who had ASD and Childhood Autism Rating Scale scores of 30–36. This single-site, open-label, block-randomized exploratory trial enrolled 56 boys aged 7–10 years. One participant in the experimental group withdrew after completing the baseline assessment and did not complete the post-intervention assessment, leaving 55 participants in the complete-case analysis (27 experimental and 28 control). The experimental group received a multicomponent sport-based intervention incorporating mother–child and peer interaction twice weekly for 80 min over 12 weeks. The control group received fundamental movement skill training with the same session frequency and duration. The primary outcome was the mother-reported Social Responsiveness Scale total score. Secondary outcomes were the mother-reported Autism Behavior Checklist and Repetitive Behavior Scale–Revised scores. Mothers were aware of group allocation, and mothers in the experimental group participated directly in the intervention. The trial was registered retrospectively after recruitment and intervention completion. The mean SRS total score decreased by 16.44 points in the experimental group and by 2.86 points in the control group. The between-group difference in change was − 13.59 points (95% CI − 18.05 to − 9.12), corresponding to a significant group × time interaction, F(1, 53) = 37.23, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.413. The mean ABC total score decreased by 18.26 and 7.86 points, respectively; the between-group difference in change was − 10.40 points (95% CI − 15.21 to − 5.59), F(1, 53) = 18.80, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.262. The mean RBS-R total score decreased by 5.74 and 2.71 points, respectively; the between-group difference in change was − 3.03 points (95% CI − 4.15 to − 1.91), F(1, 53) = 29.41, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.357. Secondary and subscale analyses were exploratory. Corrected post-intervention between-group contrasts were not significant for ABC Body and Object Use, SRS Social Awareness, SRS Autistic Mannerisms, or RBS-R Stereotyped Behavior. In this single-site exploratory trial, the multicomponent program was associated with greater reductions in several mother-reported questionnaire scores than fundamental movement skill training. Because mothers were not blinded, mothers in the experimental group participated directly in the intervention, the conditions were not matched for adult attention or social contact, and the trial was registered retrospectively, the findings are at high risk of expectancy and measurement bias. They should not be interpreted as definitive evidence of objective or clinically meaningful improvement. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2600132866. Registered on 19 September 2026; retrospectively registered.