Understanding Engagement Patterns in Students with Autism during Physical Education: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Physical education is an important context to promote inclusion, participation, and social engagement for students with autism, but to date, little research has addressed engagement. Existing studies have primarily focused on the effectiveness of interventions and barriers to participation, and little qualitative work has examined the nature and experience of engagement in physical education. To address this gap, this study investigated the engagement of students with autism using qualitative research. Guided by an interpretivist multiple-case study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and field notes from 48 participants (including students with autism, physical education teachers, special educators, and teaching assistants). Reflexive thematic analysis highlighted four interconnected themes: engagement is facilitated by routines, sensory factors shape participation, social relationships support engagement, and engagement is activity-specific. Engagement is not a behavioral state but a dynamic, social, and contextual construct. This research provides an ecological conceptualization of multidimensional engagement that extends participation in autism and physical education. The findings suggest routine, sensory, and socially supportive pedagogies are needed to support inclusion. The study contributes to qualitative models of engagement and inclusive practice, policy, and research.