Fysisk självkänsla hos barn och ungdomar med Aspergers syndrom
Background: It is common that children and adolecsents with Aspergers syndrome have impaired motor skills and are less physically active than neurotypical children and adolecsents. Studies conducted on neurotypical children shows that children and adolecsents who are regular physical active also have a good motor control and a good physical self-esteem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical self-esteem of children and adolescents with Aspergers syndrome. Study Group: 36 children and adolescents aged 9-15 years with a diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome was asked to participate in the survey. 18 children, 16 boys and 2 girls, responded to the questionnarie about physical self-esteem which 17 of the answers could be used in the study. Methods: The translated questionnarie ?Such I am? CY-PSPP was reworked into ?Who resembles me? to better suit the target audience. The questionnaire was tested for validity at 14 neurotypcal children and adolescents aged 10-15 years. The study group also had to fill out a background form with information on age, gender, those who considered themselves physically active and if you participate in any physical recreational activity. Results: The test of validity showed that the nine children who were physically active in a group activity in their leisure time perceived lower in all domains compared with the 8 children who were not physically active in their leisure time. Discussion: The result is not consistent with the research done on neurotypical children as they show that performing physical activity correlates with the level of physical self-esteem. This study shows the opposite result. The question should be asked whether children and adolescents with Aspergers syndrome should be offered training in more custom shapes.