Journal article
Screen time reduction and focus on social engagement in autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study
Pediatrics international, v 64(1), pp e15343-n/a
01 Jan 2022
PMID: 36348519
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background There is growing concern regarding early screen media exposure and its potential effects on developmental delays including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is little research examining whether interventions can decrease screen media exposure and ASD behaviors among children with ASD. Methods Participants were nine children, 18 to 40 months old, with an ASD diagnosis who watched screens at least 2 h per day. Screen viewing history and weekly screen viewing and social interaction were assessed. The intervention involved a parent education program followed by weekly 1 h in-home support visits aimed at replacing screen time with social engagement time over a 6 month period. Child autism symptoms (Brief Observation of Social Communication Change), functional behavior (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales), and development (Mullen Scales of Early Learning) were assessed before and after intervention; parents completed questionnaires on parental stress (Autism Parenting Stress Index) and their perceptions of the intervention. Results Children's screen viewing decreased from an average of 5.6 h/day prior to intervention to 5 min/day during the study. Significant improvements were observed in core autism symptoms and parental stress from pre- to post-intervention. Conclusions Parent education and training/support to minimize screen time and increase social interaction for young children with ASD was tolerated well by parents and children. These promising preliminary results suggest that further research on early screen media viewing, ASD, and screen reduction intervention is warranted.
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Details
- Title
- Screen time reduction and focus on social engagement in autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study
- Creators
- Karen Frankel Heffler - Drexel UniversityLori R. Frome - Institut für Versorgungsforschung in der OnkologieBrigid Garvin - Drexel UniversityLindsay M. Bungert - Drexel UniversityDavid S. Bennett - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Pediatrics international, v 64(1), pp e15343-n/a
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- A. J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000879983500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85141894164
- Other Identifier
- 991020786004104721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Pediatrics