Pattern of Sedentary Activity among Persons with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Aim: The global prevalence of Neuro-developmental Disorders (NDDs) is alarming, with approximately 316.8 million cases identified. Individuals with NDDs are reportedly less physically active compared to their peers. However, reviews are limited, focusing on sedentary patterns of individuals with NDDs alongside disorder-specific data. This study aims to identify disorder-specific patterns and factors influencing sedentary lifestyles in this population. 

Method: The review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, with study selection guided by the JBI Population–Concept–Context (PCC) approach. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keywords such as “sedentary activity,” “screen time,” “sitting time,” “neurodevelopmental disorders,” “ASD,” “ADHD,” and “intellectual disability,” combined with Boolean operators “AND” and “OR.” Eligible studies were peer-reviewed articles examining sedentary patterns in individuals with NDDs. Review articles, studies on typically developing populations, and studies addressing only physical activity were excluded.

Results: A total of 19 articles were entitled for this study, involving 27,180 samples. Screen media usage was the most common form of sedentary activity among individuals with NDDs. Other sedentary activities were reading, imaginative play, playing with toys, crafting, indoor games, and playing musical instruments. Screen time was higher among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (2 to 7 hours/day) and Intellectual Disability (2 to 10 hours/day) compared to other groups. Moreover, sedentary time was higher on weekends compared to weekdays.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that individuals across all age groups with NDDs exceed the ideal screen time limits. Disorder traits, physical and socio-economic barriers, and quality of life influence sedentary behaviors. The limited exploration of disorders, aside from a few observational studies in this context, highlights the need for broader, more comprehensive research.

Limitation: The absence of a preregistered protocol may reduce methodological transparency and increase the potential for bias.