Supplementary files_ASR and VU.xlsx

Screen media acts as a fundamental aspect in the daily lives of children with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This systematic review evaluated and assembled articles on ASDs about excessive screen exposure and screen time. Nine electronic databases (i.e., Medline, Embase, ERIC/Proquest, ScienceDirect, Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched from inception to Dec 2024. The general inclusion criteria were studies conducted on children and youths with ASDs. Of the 1307 unique articles screened after the early search, 12 research studies carried out on 124,913 participants altogether, fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The ASD symptoms were evaluated using various assessment measures. The three main themes discussed findings related to ASD and screen time as a trigger: withdrawal of screen time, and genetic predisposition. The empirical evidence has highlighted the significant increase in early childhood excessive screen exposure and various negative cognitive and behavioural consequences among children, showing the importance of a refined understanding of early and excessive exposure to digital devices and screens. The results are encouraging but need validation and refinement by more empirical investigations.

屏幕媒介是自闭症谱系障碍（ASDs）儿童及非ASD儿童日常生活中的基本组成部分。本系统综述对有关ASD儿童过度屏幕暴露及屏幕时间的文献进行了评估与整合。研究检索了9个电子数据库（即Medline、Embase、ERIC/Proquest、ScienceDirect、Pubmed、PsycINFO、CINAHL、Scopus及EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials），检索时间从建库至2024年12月。纳入标准为针对ASD儿童及青少年开展的研究。初步检索后筛选出1307篇独特文献，其中12项研究（共涉及124,913名参与者）符合纳入标准。研究采用多种评估工具对ASD症状进行了评估。讨论的三大核心主题涉及ASD与屏幕时间的关联（屏幕时间作为触发因素）、屏幕时间的戒断反应及遗传易感性。实证证据表明，幼儿过度屏幕暴露的现象显著增加，并会对儿童造成多种认知及行为层面的负面影响，这凸显了深入理解早期过度数字设备及屏幕暴露的重要性。