Screen use, parent–child interaction, and social interaction behaviors in autistic children

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed children’s everyday environments, raising concerns about excessive screen use and its potential developmental implications. Although research on screen use has increased substantially, relatively little is known about how screen use may relate to family interaction processes among autistic children. The present study aimed to examine the relationships among screen use, autism severity, parent–child interaction behaviors, and children’s social interaction behaviors in autistic children. The study employed a correlational research design. Participants included 784 parent–child pairs recruited from multiple provinces across Türkiye. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, the Autism Behavior Assessment Tool (ABAS), and parent-reported measures of children’s screen use patterns. In addition, observational interaction data were obtained from a subsample of 102 mother–child dyads using the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale–Turkish Version (MBRS-TV), the Child Behavior Rating Scale–Turkish Version (CBRS-TV), and the Social Interaction Assessment Instrument (SIAI-TV). The findings indicated that children’s screen use was positively associated with autism severity and autistic interaction behaviors, while negatively associated with attention, interaction initiation, and overall interaction behaviors. Maternal interaction behaviors were positively associated with children’s interaction behaviors and negatively associated with children’s screen use. These results suggest that higher levels of screen exposure may be related to reduced social interaction opportunities among autistic children. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of considering family interaction processes when evaluating digital media use in autistic children and suggest that balanced media routines and responsive parenting may support healthier developmental outcomes.