Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jul;51(4):e70136.
doi: 10.1111/cch.70136.

Screen Time Among and Youth Children With Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Leigh M Vanderloo  1   2 , Matthew Bourke  3 , Leah G Taylor  1 , Sophie M Phillips  1 , Aidan Loh  4 , Katerina Disimino  5 , Rebecca L Bassett-Gunter  5   6 , Tyler Koo  7 , Molly Thompson-Hill  8 , Patricia Tucker  1   9
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Screen Time Among and Youth Children With Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Leigh M Vanderloo et al. Child Care Health Dev. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: This paper aimed to review and synthesize screen time research among children and youth with disabilities.

Methods: Seven online databases were searched, and a machine learning-assisted systematic review model was used to identify relevant studies. English and French papers reporting on screen time among children and youth with a disability were eligible. Extracted data were synthesized by participant age, followed by type of screen time reporting. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate daily screen time and adherence to screen time guidelines using random effects meta-analysis.

Results: Eighty-one studies were included. Screen time ranged from 0.5 to 7.27 h/day and varied widely based on disability type. Pooled average screen time was 3.70, 3.28 and 3.39 h/day for children and youth with ASD, ADHD and CP, respectively.

Conclusion: Screen use is prominent among children and youth with disabilities. Limiting screen time in this group is critical in preventing numerous related consequences of excessive, prolonged use.

Policy implications: Interventions targeting children and youth with disabilities are needed to decrease excessive screen time among this population and to inform future public health policy and setting-specific practice.

Keywords: computer; paediatrics; screen use; sedentary behaviour; youth.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow chart.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Publications per geographic region.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
(a) Screen time in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. (b) Screen time in children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. (c) Screen time in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Proportion of children and adolescents with ASD achieving the screen time guidelines.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Balduzzi, S. , Rücker G., and Schwarzer G.. 2019. “How to Perform a Meta‐Analysis With R: A Practical Tutorial.” Evidence‐Based Mental Health 22, no. 4: 153–160. 10.1136/ebmental-2019-300117. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Beaumont, R. , Walker H., Weiss J., and Sofronoff K.. 2021. “Randomized Controlled Trial of a Video Gaming‐Based Social Skills Program for Children on the Autism Spectrum.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 51: 3637–3650. 10.1007/s10803-020-04801-z. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bedell, G. , Coster W., Law M., et al. 2013. “Community Participation, Supports, and Barriers of School‐Age Children With and Without Disabilities.” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 94, no. 2: 315–323. 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.09.024. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Blum‐Ross, A. , and Livingstone S.. 2018. “The Trouble With “Screen Time” Rules.” In Digital Parenting. The Challenges for Families in the Digital Age, edited by Mascheroni G., Ponte C., and Jorge A., 179–187. Nordicom.
    1. Bourke, M. , Haddara A., Loh A., Carson V., Breau B., and Tucker P.. 2023. “Adherence to the World Health Organization's Physical Activity Recommendation in Preschool‐Aged Children: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Accelerometer Studies.” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 20: 52. 10.1186/s12966-023-01450-0. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources