Twenty-Four-Hour Movement Behaviors and Social Functions in Neurodiverse Children: A Scoping Review.

Research on how an active lifestyle impacts the social functions of neurodiverse children, particularly within the context of twenty-four-hour (24 h) movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviors, sleep), has been emerging but has yet to receive a systematic synthesis. In this scoping review, we aimed (1) to synthesize current knowledge in the field of 24 h movement behaviors and social functions in neurodiverse children; and (2) to offer insights into implications for future research and practices. Specifically, we conducted a systematic search via four databases, namely the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost, through 31st December 2024, and followed scoping review guidelines for results synthesis. The initial search returned 2342 articles, of which 50 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria following a robust selection and screening process. These retained studies were published between 2004 and 2024, primarily focused on children with neurodiversity of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD (70%), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD (23%), and using quantitative methods (84%). Only 6% of studies considered the combined effects of different 24 h movement behaviors, with most examining physical activity alone. Longer group exercise interventions were found to be more effective in improving social functions in neurodiverse children. Overall, the findings support the position that 24 h behaviors have a positive influence on the social functioning of neurodiverse children. However, current research tends to focus primarily on ASD, uses quantitative methods, and often overlooks the combined effects of physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior. Future studies should address these limitations and examine 24 h movement behaviors in children with a broader range of neurodiverse characteristics. Research and practices should also consider qualitative approaches as a complement to quantitative measures for monitoring and evaluation.