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IntroductionMethodFindingsDiscussionThis qualitative study examined the perceptions and contribution of music to the everyday lives of autistic women. It draws on the neurodiversity paradigm and feminist theories of disability. The first author’s autistic lived experience may have influenced these perspectives, but it also provides a more profound and nuanced understanding of these women’s experiences and culture.A constructivist qualitative paradigm appropriate for research involving sensitive or underexplored populations was implemented. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with nine Israeli autistic women aged 25–55 from various social backgrounds. The data were analyzed according to the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach.Four superordinate themes were developed from the data analysis: music throughout life, music as a facilitator of participation in society, music as an expression of diversity and normalization, autistic masking and the loss of musical identity.The findings suggest that the participants perceived music as highly significant, as it catalyzed self-expression and resilience. Yet, they also revealed challenges stemming from societal norms and the stigma associated with autism that potentially led to identity conflicts and masking behaviors that undermined music’s contribution to their lives. The study highlights the complex interplay between the participants’ musical, autistic and social identities, and further illustrates how music serves as a medium for expressing these intersecting aspects of their identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Few autistic adults are able to integrate successfully into the world of work given their difficulties adapting to the social and stressful aspects of work environments. Interpersonal synchrony, when two or more individuals share body movements or sensations, is a powerful force that consolidates human groups while promoting the ability to self-regulate and cooperate with others. The abilities to self-regulate and cooperate are crucial for maintaining a calm and productive work environment. This study protocol outlines research that aims to assess the effects of group interpersonal synchrony on prosociality and work-related stress of young autistic adults in their work environment. Methods and analysis: This mixed-methods randomized controlled trial will investigate two movement-based group synchronous and non-synchronous intervention conditions. The sample will be composed of young adults enrolled in an innovative Israeli program designed to integrate cognitively-abled 18- to 25-year-old autistic adults into the Israeli army work force. The movement-based intervention sessions will take place in groups of 10–14 participants, once a week for 10 weeks. Questionnaires, behavioral collaborative tasks and semi-structured interviews will be conducted. Quantitative data will be collected for each participant at three points of time: before and after the intervention period, and 17 weeks after the end of the intervention. Qualitative data will be collected after the intervention period in interviews with the participants. Discussion: Little is known about interventions that promote successful integration into social and stressful work environments. The findings are likely to shed new light on the use of group interpersonal synchrony in autistic individuals at work. Trial registration: NCT05846308. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music therapy has growing evidence for its effectiveness in mental health. People with mental health conditions often face significant barriers in obtaining personal valued social roles and feeling a sense of belonging to their community. Overcoming these barriers is an important step in the recovery process. This pilot study investigated whether long-term group music therapy might have an impact on participants' social skill development, group cohesion and expression of emotional states. The study was an exploratory, retrospective, quantitative, longitudinal single-case study (N = 8). Five video recorded sessions were selected and micro-analyzed by independent raters, who rated the Group Environmental Scale (n = 8) and Individual Behavior Observation Categorization scale (n = 4). Statistical analysis was carried out to identify trends over time. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04435405). A longitudinal improvement was found in the group domains of Relationship (1.6-fold), Personal growth (1.9-fold) and System maintenance (1.5-fold) along the 9-month follow-up period. On the individual level, an improvement was found over time in social skills and group cohesion (4.85-fold), affect (3.15-fold), and musical activities performances (19.9-fold). The study demonstrated longitudinal improvement trends in social skills, group cohesion and expression of emotional states (affect) in the group as a whole and in each of the four individual assessments. Future studies which will include a larger sample and longer follow-up periods are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music-Oriented Parent Counseling (MOPC) is a clinical way to work with parents, using musical improvisations and listening. This study examined effects of MOPC on level of stress, quality of life perception and daily use of music by the parents of autistic children. Fourteen parents of young autistic children received either three MOPC sessions (n = 7) or ten MOPC sessions (n = 7), parallel to either music therapy (MT) or standard care for their children. Change in parental stress, parents' perception on children's and families' quality of life and the daily use of music (routine and joint music activities) were measured with standardized assessments and parent interviews. Descriptive and inferential parametric statistics were conducted, as well as thematic analysis. We found little change and no significant effect on parental stress. Children's quality of life showed improvement with but not without MT and a tendency towards a larger improvement with high-intensity than low-intensity MOPC. Family quality of life showed less change but a somewhat larger improvement in high-intensity than low-intensity MOPC. Routine music activities increased in high-intensity MOPC but decreased in low-intensity MOPC; joint music activities showed less change but a similar trend. Qualitative analysis of the interviews suggested that parents participating in high-intensity MOPC felt less stressed, perceived improved quality of life, and increased music use. Findings provide preliminary support for high-intensity MOPC to help parents of autistic children increase children's and families' quality of life and music use. More research is needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effects of a physical activity programme on sedentary behaviour and physical activity in ambulant individuals with Rett syndrome (RTT). Method: In this multicentre randomized waitlist‐controlled trial, we recruited 43 ambulatory individuals with RTT in Australia and Denmark. Adequate baseline data were obtained from 38 participants (mean age 20 years, range 6–41, SD 10 years 6 months, one male). All completed the trial. Participants received 12 weeks of usual care (n = 19) or a goal‐based, telehealth‐supported programme in which activities occurred in their familiar environments (n = 19). Sedentary time and daily steps were assessed at baseline, post‐test, and 12‐week follow‐up. The data analyst was blinded to group allocation. Results: Sedentary time decreased in the intervention group by 2.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] −6.0 to 0.6) and increased in the control group by 1.3% (95% CI −4.8 to 7.4). Intervention and control groups increased the number of their steps per day by 264.7 (95% CI −72.2 to 601.5) and 104.8 (95% CI −178.1 to 387.7) respectively. No significant differences were found on any outcomes at post‐test. There were three minor adverse events. Interpretation: A goal‐based telehealth intervention seemed to produce small improvements in physical activity for individuals with RTT. Families require more support to increase these individuals' extremely low physical activity levels. What this paper adds: A telehealth‐supported intervention may produce small changes in physical activity in Rett syndrome (RTT).Increasing physical activity in individuals with RTT is challenging for caregivers.Families require substantial out‐of‐home support to increase their children's activity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with a disability may spend more time sitting and lying ("downtime") and less time standing and walking ("uptime"). Caregivers and therapists supporting individuals with Rett syndrome were surveyed, aiming to gather insights on how to support participation in "uptime" activities. An anonymous online survey including open ended questions about the enablers and barriers to "uptime" was administered to parent/caregivers and therapists/health professionals in an international sample. Responses were coded to the International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF) framework identifying barriers, enablers, and strategies for increasing uptime activities. Parents (N = 115) and therapists (N = 49) completed the survey. Barriers and enablers to "uptime" were identified for all ICF domains and additional data coded to enabling access to the physical environment. Strategies to promote "uptime" activities and participation particularly related to the individual's physical capacity and personal factors as well as social and physical environmental factors. Findings can inform the design of interventions aiming to increase "uptime" in individuals with Rett syndrome. Strategies should create individualised support by considering how to build fitness using activities that are motivating, at the same time creating opportunities for social interactions within a range of environments. "Uptime" participation comprised a dynamic interaction of "doing" the standing or walking activity, with a sense of self-engagement with the activities and interaction with others. Strategies to promote "uptime" participation should consider how to create support for person-related attributes, including building physical capacity for a greater volume of "uptime" in activities that are enjoyable and motivating. Strategies to promote "uptime participation should also include creating a supportive environment, comprising opportunities for social interaction within a range of environments". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the intersubjective potentials of nonspeaking young individuals with the more severe forms of cerebral palsy through their musicality and appropriation of music. Here, these forms are called cerebral palsies and multiple disabilities (CPMD). A pluralistic research approach, specifically a combined qualitative approach was applied due to the sensitive and unexplored population. The philosophical framework was IPA, suitable for studying unique persons or phenomena in given contexts. A three-interview series was applied. First, the communicability, musicality, and the musicking of six individuals with (CPMD) were studied through two semi-structured life world interviews with their parents: five Israeli women and one man, religious and non-religious Jews in their 40s. Musical home videos were viewed during every second interview. Grounded theory (GT) coding took place with the transcribed interviews and the researcher's journal. GT was not aimed to generate theory, but gain an additional perspective and thicker data. Subsequently, the GT findings were discussed with the parents through a third interview, and the results were finalized with IPA analysis. Three superordinate themes emerged in relation to the musicality, appropriation of music in everyday life, and the parents' low awareness of their children's potentials. Parental-professional collaboration and a consumer-led approach are recommended in order to improve the parents' low awareness of their children's potentials, and to encourage more aware use of music's affordances. The study's limitations are discussed and future directions suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]