Problematic Digital Media Use and Behavioral Issues in Children with Special Needs: A Family Needs-Centered Perspective

TL;DR

This study explores how digital media use affects children with special needs and their families, finding higher issues among children with autism and lower issues with higher parental education and socioeconomic status.

Contribution

The study provides insights into how digital media use, behavioral problems, and family needs vary by disability type and socioeconomic factors in children with special needs.

Findings

Children with autism spectrum disorder showed higher problematic media use and behavioral problems.

Higher parental education and socioeconomic status were linked to lower problematic media use and behavioral issues.

Problematic media use, behavioral problems, and family needs were significantly correlated.

Abstract

As technological developments proliferate, understanding the impact of digital media on children with special needs has become increasingly critical. This study examines problematic digital media use, behavioral problems, and family needs among children with special needs, and investigates whether these variables differ by disability type, parental education, and socioeconomic status (SES). Parents of 357 children with special needs from various regions of Türkiye participated. Data were collected via parent-report questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques. Findings indicate high levels of problematic media use, behavioral problems, and family needs in this population. In particular, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibited higher levels of problematic media use and behavioral problems, and their parents reported greater support needs than other groups. Conversely, lower levels of problematic media use and behavioral problems were observed among children whose parents had higher education and SES. Significant positive correlations also emerged among problematic media use, behavioral problems, and family needs. These findings suggest that appropriately guided digital media use may be associated with fewer behavioral difficulties and that strengthening supports for families could be a relevant target for intervention; however, causal inferences are not warranted from these data.