---
title: The Effects of Exercise in Anxiety in Children With ASD
nct_id: NCT03860389
overall_status: UNKNOWN
phase: NA
sponsor: Institute of Technology, Carlow
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Autism Spectrum Disorder
countries: Ireland
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03860389.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03860389"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2019-03-01
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:03:14.285Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# The Effects of Exercise in Anxiety in Children With ASD

**Official Title:** The Effects of a School Based Exercise Programme on Behaviour and Anxiety in Children With ASD

**NCT ID:** [NCT03860389](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03860389)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** UNKNOWN
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 50
- **Lead Sponsor:** Institute of Technology, Carlow
- **Collaborators:** University of Reading
- **Conditions:** Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Behavior
- **Start Date:** 2019-01-07
- **Completion Date:** 2019-12-16
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2019-03-01

## Brief Summary

This study will examine the effects of a school based exercise programme on anxiety and behaviour levels in children with autism.

## Detailed Description

This study will examine the effects of a school based exercise programme on anxiety and behaviour levels in children with autism. Local special autism schools and primary and secondary schools with specialised classes for children with autism will be approached to participate in the project. The age profile of the children will be 4-18 yrs of age and they will have mild-severe levels of autism. The exercise programme will delivered 3 times per week in the schools over periods of 8-16 weeks dependent on the severity of autism within the children.

Questionnaires will be given to the parents and teachers of the children at the beginning and at the end of the programme to assess changes in anxiety levels and behaviour as a result of the exercise programme.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 4 Years
- **Maximum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** Yes

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any medical condition which excludes the child from partaking in exercise
```

## Arms

- **Exercise effects on anxiety** (EXPERIMENTAL) — An exercise programme will be administered 3 times a week for up to an 16 week period of time in a school setting. Each exercise class will last 60 minutes. The exercise classes will involve aspects of fundamental movement skills and will be fun for the students to participate in.

## Interventions

- **Exercise** (OTHER) — An exercise programme will be delivered in the school for a period of up to 16 weeks. Exercise classes will take place 3 times a week and will be of 60 minutes duration.

## Primary Outcomes

- **Anxiety** _(time frame: Change from baseline at Week 8 and Week 16)_ — Changes in anxiety levels of the children will be assessed using the Anxiety Scale for Children -ASD.
- **Behaviour** _(time frame: Change from baseline at Week 8 and Week 16)_ — Changes in the behaviour of the children will be assessed using the Nisingor Child Behaviour Rating Form

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Fitness level** _(time frame: Change from baseline at Week 8 and Week 16)_

## Locations (1)

- Sharon Kinsella, Carlow, Co. Carlow, Ireland — _RECRUITING_

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.sharon kinsella|carlow|co. carlow|ireland` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03860389.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03860389*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*