Screen time and associated risks in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders during a discrete COVID-19 lockdown period.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic may affect the screen time of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study aimed to examine the screen time of children and adolescents with ASD during a discrete lockdown period in France and identify risk factors for excessive screen time.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 249 ASD subjects, 3-17 years of age, enrolled in the ELENA cohort. Information about the screen time was collected using the COVID-19 questionnaire specially created for this study. The clinical, socio-demographic and familial characteristics were collected from the last ELENA follow-up visit.

Results

More than one third of subjects exceeded recommended levels of screen time and almost half of parents reported that their child spent

SUBMITTER: Berard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9751585 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature