Characterization of screen use by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Analyzing changes depending on age and socio-economic situation

• Grant number: 25/03766-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Camila Domeniconi
• Grantee: Marcus Vinícius de Abreu Santos Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/18021-6 - Use of digital technologies by preschool children: general aspects and correlation with different domains affecting learning, AP.R

Abstract

: Issues related to children's screen use and its impact on child development firstemerged with the advent of television and were later reshaped with the rise of mobile devicessuch as tablets and smartphones. These discussions have oscillated between excessivelynegative and positive perspectives. In this context, the social and economic changes broughtabout by the increasing integration of screens into daily life have warranted numerousquantitative and qualitative studies aimed at identifying the possible effects of screen exposureon child development.However, one of the samples that remains understudied consists ofchildren diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this regard, the present researchis particularly relevant, as it seeks to investigate and identify potential correlations between age,socioeconomic factors, and screen exposure among children with ASD. To this end, data from100 parents or guardians of children with ASD are expected to be collected remotely throughthe RedCap platform. Participants will be recruited via emails and social media fromnon-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools, and clinics. It is hoped that the results willprovide valuable insights into how screen use occurs among children with ASD.