Zhongguo quanke yixue (Sep 2024)
Association between Screen Exposure and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
Background Previous studies have confirmed that screen exposure is widespread in preschool children and is related to children's emotional and behavioral problems. Most of the existing studies focus on normal preschool children, but the research on screen exposure and emotional and behavioral problems of preschool autistic children is relatively rare. Objective To investigate the screen exposure and the abnormal detection of emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children with autism, and to explore the association between screen exposure and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children with autism. Methods Preschool children with autism who met the diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) autism diagnostic criteria and visited the Department of Child Development and Behavior of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February to August 2022 were selected as the autism group. At the same time, children with normal development in kindergartners in Zhengzhou were selected as the normal control group. The screen exposure questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent version) were completed by the main caregivers of the children in the two groups. Results There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of screen time, parents' response to screen management, and screen deprivation (P<0.001). Compared with the normal control group, the children in the autism group had significantly higher detection rates of prosocial behavior, total difficulties, and sub-dimensions (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention problems, and peer problems) (P<0.001). Logistic regression showed that the influencing factors of emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children included placing electronic devices in the sleeping or playing space, whether caregivers interacted with each other during watching, caregivers' attitudes toward children's electronic screen watching, whether they were active or passive participants in touching electronic screens, and children's reactions to forced turning off electronic screens (P<0.05) . Conclusion Screen exposure can affect the emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children with autism. Parents should rationally plan screen use for preschool children with autism.
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