title: Prevalence and correlates of screen-based media use among youths with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Anecdotal reports indicate that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are often preoccupied with television, computers, and video games (screen-based media). However, few studies have examined this issue. The current study examined screen-based media use among a large, nationally representative sample of youths participating in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2). The majority of youths with ASD (64.2%) spent most of their free time using non-social media (television, video games), while only 13.2% spent time on social media (email, internet chatting). Compared with other disability groups (speech/language impairments, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities), rates of non-social media use were higher among the ASD group, and rates of social media use were lower. Demographic and symptom-specific correlates were also examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Psychology, Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. mazurekm@missouri.edu
authors.forename: Micah O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Mazurek
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Shattuck
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Benjamin P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*