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.