Physical Activity Unlinked to Lower Anxiety or Depression in Autistic Children

Higher physical activity was not significantly associated with lower anxiety severity or depression severity among autistic children, according to an analysis of data from 5,750 children aged 6 to 17 with autism from the 2021–2024 National Survey of Children’s Health. Weighted regression models revealed that higher physical activity did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship with reduced anxiety severity (β = –0.07, p = 0.233) or depression severity (β = –0.06, p = 0.525).

The investigation assessed whether physical activity moderated associations between economic hardship or cumulative adverse experiences and mental health severity, alongside exploratory interactions involving medication use and behavioral treatment. In adjusted models, neither economic hardship nor cumulative adverse experiences was significantly associated with anxiety or depression severity. Furthermore, none of the eight tested physical activity interaction terms reached statistical significance, with all resulting in p-values greater than 0.05.

While physical activity showed no significant protective association, the study identified that male sex, current medication use, and current behavioral treatment were each significantly associated with higher anxiety severity. The author concluded that higher physical activity neither related significantly to lower anxiety or depression severity nor moderated the links between adverse experiences or economic hardship and mental health within this sample, indicating that broader family and socioeconomic contexts may be important when interpreting mental health correlates in autistic children.

Subject of Research: Physical activity and mental health severity in autistic children

Article Title: Socioeconomic Hardship and Cumulative Adverse Experiences in Relation to Anxiety and Depression in Autistic Children: Exploring the Role of Physical Activity

Article References: Lee, Y. (2026). Socioeconomic Hardship and Cumulative Adverse Experiences in Relation to Anxiety and Depression in Autistic Children: Exploring the Role of Physical Activity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07607-7

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10803-026-07607-7

Keywords: autism, physical activity, anxiety, depression, child mental health, pediatric health, socioeconomic hardship, National Survey of Children's Health, Socioeconomic, Hardship, Cumulative, Adverse