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Exploring emotions and perspectives of families with autism spectrum disorder individuals on sports participation: a case study on Weibo using machine learning method

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Title: Exploring emotions and perspectives of families with autism spectrum disorder individuals on sports participation: a case study on Weibo using machine learning method
Authors: Shan He, Fengshi Jing, Hao Ren, Yanning Xiao, Xia Sebastiane Chen, Ruihong Tang, Yue Qiu, Junwei Zeng, Tianyu Gao, Junhao Huang
Source: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2025)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Sports medicine
Subject Terms: Autism spectrum disorder, Social media data analysis, Sports participation, Physical activity, Sentiment analysis, Sports medicine, RC1200-1245
Description: Abstract Background Physical activity is known to have numerous benefits for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Understanding family sentiments towards ASD sports participation is crucial for developing interventions that promote physical activity. This study aimed to explore the sentiments of families regarding sports participation for individuals with ASD using longitudinal data from Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. Objective This study investigates family sentiments and attitudes toward sports participation by ASD individuals, leveraging longitudinal data from Sina Weibo and machine learning–based sentiment analysis. Methods We collected Weibo posts containing the keyword “autism” from January 2020 to April 2023, filtered for sports‑related content, and divided the dataset into ten four‑month intervals. Using SnowNLP’s Naive Bayes–based sentiment classifier, we labeled each post as positive or negative and analyzed temporal trends. Results Positive sentiments toward sports participation far outnumbered negative sentiments, and the proportion of supportive posts increased steadily over the study period, reflecting growing recognition of sports’ role in enhancing well‑being and development among ASD individuals. Conclusion Families of ASD individuals increasingly acknowledge the multifaceted benefits of physical activity. These insights can guide the design of targeted interventions and inclusive sports programs, ultimately fostering greater participation and improving quality of life within the ASD community.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2052-1847
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2052-1847
DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01189-0
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/c458d41a71b44ae2b15bcd240eef033b
Accession Number: edsdoj.458d41a71b44ae2b15bcd240eef033b
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Description
Abstract:Abstract Background Physical activity is known to have numerous benefits for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Understanding family sentiments towards ASD sports participation is crucial for developing interventions that promote physical activity. This study aimed to explore the sentiments of families regarding sports participation for individuals with ASD using longitudinal data from Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. Objective This study investigates family sentiments and attitudes toward sports participation by ASD individuals, leveraging longitudinal data from Sina Weibo and machine learning–based sentiment analysis. Methods We collected Weibo posts containing the keyword “autism” from January 2020 to April 2023, filtered for sports‑related content, and divided the dataset into ten four‑month intervals. Using SnowNLP’s Naive Bayes–based sentiment classifier, we labeled each post as positive or negative and analyzed temporal trends. Results Positive sentiments toward sports participation far outnumbered negative sentiments, and the proportion of supportive posts increased steadily over the study period, reflecting growing recognition of sports’ role in enhancing well‑being and development among ASD individuals. Conclusion Families of ASD individuals increasingly acknowledge the multifaceted benefits of physical activity. These insights can guide the design of targeted interventions and inclusive sports programs, ultimately fostering greater participation and improving quality of life within the ASD community.
ISSN:20521847
DOI:10.1186/s13102-025-01189-0