Selective change in personal autonomy associated with motor sensory room training in children with autism: an exploratory controlled pre-post study
- 1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus , ,
- 2Cooperativa Giovamente , ,
- 3ASL Salerno , ,
Abstract
Background: Structured sensory-motor environments are increasingly used with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but it remains unclear whether their effects extend across multiple functional domains.
Objective: This exploratory controlled pre-post study examined the pattern and specificity of behavioral and sensory change associated with a 12-week Motor Sensory Room (MSR) program.
Methods: The analyzed sample comprised 54 children: 44 received MSR plus treatment as usual (TAU), and a 10-child comparison cohort received TAU alone. Ordinal behavioral items were directionally recoded into eight composites. Time x Group interactions were tested across two time points, with Bonferroni correction applied separately to the behavioral and sensory outcome families.
Results: Personal autonomy was the only behavioral domain showing a correction-resistant differential improvement, F(1, 52) = 17.72, p < 0.001, Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.254. No other behavioral interaction survived correction. Significant interactions were identified for four raw sensory items (rough, smooth, and soft surfaces and warm sensations); however, these primarily represented different group trajectories and could not be interpreted as clinical improvement without individual baseline hypo−/hyper-reactivity classifications.
Conclusion: The findings do not support a generalized effect of MSR across behavioral or sensory functioning. They provide preliminary evidence of a selective MSR-associated change in personal autonomy that requires confirmation using randomized designs and validated adaptive-functioning measures.
Related
- Exploratory Proteomics of Brain Extracellular Vesicle Enriched Preparations After LPS Challenge and miRNA Associated Vesicle Administration
- Not all stress is equal: Examination stress and cortisol reactivity are associated with exploratory species-level variation but not broad restructuring of the gut microbiome
- An Exploratory Multiome Analysis of a BCG-Associated HSPC Signature: Trained-Immunity Marker in Blood and an Adverse Prognostic Association in Tumour
- In-person UCLA-PEERS® program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in Italy: study protocol for a pilot and feasibility randomized controlled trial with pragmatic features and exploratory EEG markers of treatment response
- Cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein to diagnose healthcare-associated meningitis after neurosurgical procedures: An exploratory retrospective diagnostic accuracy study.
BibTeX
@article{savarese2026selective,
title = {{Selective change in personal autonomy associated with motor sensory room training in children with autism: an exploratory controlled pre-post study}},
author = {G. Savarese and L. Carpinelli and R. Mandia and A. Diavoletto and M. Piscitelli and F. Impemba and A. Di Siervi and A. Vertullo and F. Bottiglieri and M. Sessa and G. Corrivetti},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1933418},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13724440},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Selective change in personal autonomy associated with motor sensory room training in children with autism: an exploratory controlled pre-post study
AU - G. Savarese
AU - L. Carpinelli
AU - R. Mandia
AU - A. Diavoletto
AU - M. Piscitelli
AU - F. Impemba
AU - A. Di Siervi
AU - A. Vertullo
AU - F. Bottiglieri
AU - M. Sessa
AU - G. Corrivetti
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Frontiers in psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1933418
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13724440
AB - Background: Structured sensory-motor environments are increasingly used with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but it remains unclear whether their effects extend across multiple functional domains. Objective: This exploratory controlled pre-post study examined the pattern and specificity of behavioral and sensory change associated with a 12-week Motor Sensory Room (MSR) program. Methods: The analyzed sample comprised 54 children: 44 received MSR plus treatment as usual (TAU), and a 10-child comparison cohort received TAU alone. Ordinal behavioral items were directionally recoded into eight composites. Time x Group interactions were tested across two time points, with Bonferroni correction applied separately to the behavioral and sensory outcome families. Results: Personal autonomy was the only behavioral domain showing a correction-resistant differential improvement, F(1, 52) = 17.72, p < 0.001, Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.254. No other behavioral interaction survived correction. Significant interactions were identified for four raw sensory items (rough, smooth, and soft surfaces and warm sensations); however, these primarily represented different group trajectories and could not be interpreted as clinical improvement without individual baseline hypo−/hyper-reactivity classifications. Conclusion: The findings do not support a generalized effect of MSR across behavioral or sensory functioning. They provide preliminary evidence of a selective MSR-associated change in personal autonomy that requires confirmation using randomized designs and validated adaptive-functioning measures.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -