PSYCHOMOTOR ACTIVITIES IN THE PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD): AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This article aimed to investigate, through an integrative review, how psychomotor activities contribute to the promotion of mental health in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A bibliographic search was conducted in Google Scholar, PubMed, and MDPI using the terms “autism,” “mental health,” and “psychomotor activities.” Original studies published between January 2019 and December 2024 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, involving psychomotor interventions in children up to 12 years old diagnosed with ASD, were selected. Findings showed that psychomotor interventions—typically two sessions per week lasting 30 to 120 minutes—improve self‑regulation, social skills, and cognition, with positive effects emerging by the sixth week of intervention. However, qualitative or mixed methods predominated, and there is a lack of longitudinal studies with larger samples. It is concluded that psychomotor practices are a promising resource for the mental well‑being of children with ASD, but greater methodological rigor and long‑term impact evaluation are needed.