Screen time addiction comparison among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and children without ASD in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Screen time refers the amount of time spent using electronic or screen based media. Screen time user increasing day by day. Children’s getting addicted on the digital devices. Many study found that ASD children screen time user more than the without ASD children. Aim: The aim of this research is to find out which group screen addicted and compare screen time addiction among children with ASD and without ASD children in Bangladesh. Method: The study was conducted by a cross-sectional comparative quantitative study design through a face-to-face survey among 122 participants who are parents of children with ASD participants number 61 and Without ASD children was 61 participants. All the participants were taken through a convenient sampling technique. Participants was including by different criteria such as- parents of children (age 9-12) with ASD and without ASD children. All the participants were school going children. To identify which group screen addicted more. Researcher use Digital Addiction Scale for Children (DASC). Descriptive statistics analysis was used for demographic factors and Kruskal Wallis test and spares man test was conducted to find out the association between demographic factors and media use time. Result: Among 61 ASD children, one children screen addicted and 60 children non addicted. Also 61 without ASD children, one children addicted and 60 children non addicted. With ASD children mean time of screen 164.75 minutes (2.75 hrs.) and without ASD children mean screen time was 135.33 minutes (2.25 hrs.). Most of the ASD children and without ASD children use smartphone, second highest use device was television. There no significant found with sociodemographic status and media use time. Conclusion: The result highlighted that with ASD children and without ASD children over use digital devices regularly. In Bangladesh with ASD and without ASD children mostly use smartphone and television. Key words: Screen time, With ASD children, Without ASD children, Digital devices