Promoting Executive Functioning in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Mixed Martial Arts Training
Abstract
The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a mixed martial arts (MMA) intervention in improving executive functions (EFs) in a sample with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). School-aged children with ASD were randomly assigned to a MMA intervention group or a waitlist control (WLC) group. The intervention featured a 26-class program over a 13-week period; the WLC group did not participate in any martial arts between pre- and post-test. Results indicated that the MMA group had significantly better EFs at post-test compared to the WLC group. The intervention appeared to be efficacious in meeting its goals of improving the executive functioning of children with ASD. The present study extends the current literature on the malleability of EFs among children with ASD.
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Ronzi and Greco [52] and Phung and Goldberg [53] found increased participation in PA through combat sports (karate and mixed martial arts) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved executive functioning test scores compared to the control condition.
“Studies conducted by Ronzi and Greco [52] and Phung and Goldberg, [53] found that increased participation in PA through combat sports (karate and mixed martial arts) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved executive functioning test scores when compared to the control condition.”
From The Effects of Physical Activity on Academic Performance in School-Aged Children: A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [53]
Cites
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A conceptual framework for implementation fidelity
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“, generating ideas and concepts such as listing words that start with a certain letter), planning/problem solving, and reasoning (Anderson 2002; Diamond 2002; Diamond and Lee 2011).”
BackgroundComputerized training of working memory in children with ADHD – a randomized, controlled trial
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“The BRIEF-2 takes 10–15 min to complete (Gioia et al. 2000).”
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James, J., Pringle, A., Mourton, S., & Roscoe, C. M. P. (2023) · Children · doi:10.3390/children10061019 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
“Studies conducted by Ronzi and Greco [52] and Phung and Goldberg, [53] found that increased participation in PA through combat sports (karate and mixed martial arts) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved executive functioning test scores when compared to the control condition.”
MethodInfluential
- Authors
- Phung, J. N., & Goldberg, W. A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Phung, Janice N.
- ORCID
- Phung, Janice N.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2019-06-25
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3669-3684
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2954373892
- Cited by
- 83
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 4.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- executive function, autism spectrum disorder, mixed martial arts, children, school-aged children, intervention efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Martial Arts, Treatment Outcome, Executive Function
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