title: Media use among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: This study explores how adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use media, and the factors associated with their media use. A total of 91 adolescents with ASD and their parents completed mail-based surveys. In all, 78% of the adolescents with ASD watched television (approximately 2 h/day), and 98% used computers (approximately 5 h/day) on any given day. They most frequently watched cartoons, played computer or video games that involved shooting, and visited websites that contained information on video games. Adolescents with ASD who watched television with parents reported more positive parent-child relationships. Adolescents with ASD who visited social networking websites or received emails from friends reported more positive friendships. The findings help us understand media-use habits of adolescents with ASD and suggest areas for future research.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Canada melissa.kuo@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Boston University, USA.
authors.forename: Gael I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Orsmond
authors.affiliation: Boston University, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Coster
authors.affiliation: Boston University, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cohn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: adolescent; autism spectrum disorder; media use; personal relationships