PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Bedroom access to screen-based media may contribute to sleep problems in boys with autism, MU researchers find

2013-11-20
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Jesslyn Chew
ChewJ@missouri.edu
573-882-8353
University of Missouri-Columbia
Bedroom access to screen-based media may contribute to sleep problems in boys with autism, MU researchers find Having bedroom access to television, computers or video games is linked to less sleep in boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a team of University of Missouri researchers found.

"Previous research has shown that bedroom access to screen-based media is associated with less time spent sleeping in the general population," said Christopher Engelhardt, a post-doctoral research fellow at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders and the MU School of Health Professions. "We found that this relationship is stronger among boys with autism."

Engelhardt and his colleagues examined the relationship between media use and sleep among boys with autism compared to typically developing boys or boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They surveyed parents of boys with ASD, parents of boys with ADHD and parents of typically developing boys about the children's hours of media use each day, bedroom access to media, and the average hours of sleep they received per night. The MU researchers found a relationship between bedroom access to a television or computer and reduced sleep among boys with autism. Additionally, they found that average video-game exposure was related to less time spent sleeping among the boys with ASD.

"Even though our findings are preliminary, parents should be aware that media use may have an effect on sleep, especially for children with autism," Engelhardt said. "If children are having sleep problems, parents might consider monitoring and possibly limiting their children's media use, especially around bedtime."

Engelhardt says future research should further explore the processes by which bedroom access to media could contribute to sleep disturbances in children with ASD.

"Our current results were cross-sectional, meaning that we are not able to determine whether pre-bedtime media exposure causes some children with autism to sleep less," Engelhardt said. "However, the relationship between bedroom media access and sleep was particularly large among boys with autism, suggesting that we should continue to carefully research this possibility."

About one in 88 children are on the autism spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ASD is characterized by social and communication difficulties as well as repetitive behaviors. Sleep problems also are highly prevalent in children with autism and may have many different underlying causes. Media use may exacerbate some of these underlying problems, and appears to be an area for future research in helping to improve sleep outcomes for children with autism, Engelhardt said.

"It is also important to note that some media use may also be beneficial for children with autism," Engelhardt said. "Future research is also needed to determine how video games and other technologies may be helpful in teaching and reinforcing skills and behaviors."

The study, "Media Use and Sleep among Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, or Typical Development," was published in Pediatrics. Study co-authors included Micah Mazurek, an assistant professor in the MU School of Health Professions and a clinical child psychologist at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Kristin Sohl, a pediatrician and the director of clinical services at the Thompson Center.

INFORMATION:

As the largest center in Missouri specializing in ASD and other developmental disorders, the Thompson Center is a national leader in confronting the challenges of autism and other developmental conditions through its collaborative programs that integrate research, clinical service delivery, education and public policy.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Higher emotional intelligence leads to better decision-making

2013-11-20
Higher emotional intelligence leads to better decision-making Toronto – The anxiety people feel making investment decisions may have more to do with the traffic they dealt with earlier than the potential consequences they face with the ...

Enhancing battery performance

2013-11-20
Enhancing battery performance In APL Materials paper, researchers show how to keep cathode material 'in line' to enhance performance WASHINGTON D.C. Nov. 19, 2013 -- The ever-increasing market for portable electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones ...

The human health costs of losing natural systems: Quantifying Earth's worth to public health

2013-11-20
The human health costs of losing natural systems: Quantifying Earth's worth to public health Scientists urge focus on new branch of environmental health A new paper from members of the HEAL (Health & Ecosystems: Analysis of Linkages) consortium delineates a new ...

Obesity and nutrition are keys to avoiding metabolic syndrome

2013-11-20
Obesity and nutrition are keys to avoiding metabolic syndrome MINNEAPOLIS, MN – November 19, 2013 – Data reported by the Hearts Beat Back: The Heart of New Ulm Project reinforce the positive influence of lifestyle factors in mitigating risks that ...

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 news tips

2013-11-20
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 news tips Disappearing stent continues protection for 3 years Propping open clogged heart arteries with a "disappearing stent" has worked well for three years in the first people implanted with the unique device, according to research presented ...

Holistic cell design leads to high-performance, long cycle-life Li/S battery

2013-11-20
Holistic cell design leads to high-performance, long cycle-life Li/S battery Berkeley Lab battery a promise for mobile, and eventually, electric vehicles with 300-mile range Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ...

Holiday shopping online: Don't overwhelm consumers with too many images

2013-11-20
Holiday shopping online: Don't overwhelm consumers with too many images If presented with looking at an image or reading a paragraph describing the same product, consumers often prefer the visual option. However, according to a new study in the Journal ...

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria turns immune system against itself

2013-11-20
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria turns immune system against itself Around 20 percent of all humans are persistently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a leading cause of skin infections and one of the major sources of hospital-acquired ...

See a Honda, buy a Mountain Dew? What happens when consumers fast-forward through commercials?

2013-11-20
See a Honda, buy a Mountain Dew? What happens when consumers fast-forward through commercials? Consumers are bombarded with advertising throughout the course of any given day, often to the point where they rarely devote any conscious attention to processing ...

DIY for the holidays: Why do consumers enjoy gifts that require work?

2013-11-20
DIY for the holidays: Why do consumers enjoy gifts that require work? From gourmet cooking to assembling a flower bouquet, consumers thrive in a creative environment. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests a greater sense of appreciation ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] Bedroom access to screen-based media may contribute to sleep problems in boys with autism, MU researchers find