Impact of the Sherborne developmental movement method on the motor and psychosocial development of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Tsifopanopoulou Zoe; Kokaridas Dimitrios; Adamakis Manolis; Tsirigoti Niki-Evangelia; Skordilis Emmanouil

doi:10.2478/bhk-2026-0010

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Impact of the Sherborne developmental movement method on the motor and psychosocial development of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Biomedical Human Kinetics

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

By: Tsifopanopoulou Zoe , Kokaridas Dimitrios, Adamakis Manolis, Tsirigoti Niki-Evangelia and Skordilis Emmanouil

Open Access

|May 2026

Abstract

Study aim

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the Sherborne developmental movement (SDM) program on motor and psychosocial development and behavior in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Material and methods

Fifteen participants with ASD were assessed in motor development using the short form of Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2). Psychosocial functioning was evaluated with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-Hel), and behavior was measured using the Behavioral Summarized Evaluation (BSE). A pre-post intervention design with an experimental and a control group was employed.

Results

Participants in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in BOT-2 (F = 36.845, p = 0.001, η ² = 0.739) and prosocial behavior (PB) of the SDQ (F = 35.977, p = 0.001, η ² = 0.735), as well as reductions in the behavioral difficulties of the BSE (F = 137.054, p = 0.001, η ² = 0.913). Multiple regression analysis further indicated that PB was a significant predictor of motor development.

Conclusion

The findings support the efficacy of SDM as a body-based intervention for enhancing developmental outcomes in individuals with ASD. Despite limitations in sample size and setting, the study provides valuable evidence for incorporating SDM into special education curricula. Future research should adopt longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches to explore the long-term and generalizable effects of SDM.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2026-0010 | Journal eISSN: 2080-2234

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Language: English

Page range: 112 - 124

Submitted on: Aug 28, 2025

Accepted on: Apr 1, 2026

Published on: May 5, 2026

Published by: University of Physical Education in Warsaw

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

Sherborne Developmental Movement,

Autism Spectrum Disorder,

Motor,

Psychosocial Development,

Behavior,

Intervention

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other,

Clinical medicine,

Public health,

Sports and recreation,

Sports and recreation, other,

Physical education

© 2026 Tsifopanopoulou Zoe, Kokaridas Dimitrios, Adamakis Manolis, Tsirigoti Niki-Evangelia, Skordilis Emmanouil, published by University of Physical Education in Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)