Pediatric Media Guidance for Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Thematic Analysis

Very little is known about pediatric media guidance, or the one-on-onse advice that medical and clinical professionals (MCPs) communicate to parents about their children's recreational media and technology (RMT) use. One population that stands to benefit from a closer examination is children on the autism spectrum due to their behavior and communication challenges. We surveyed one group of pediatric autism MCPs, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) providers (N = 234), due to their proximity to families and conducted an applied thematic analysis of RMT advice they deliver. Providers reported primarily suggesting that caregivers employ restrictive parental mediation with their autistic child, that RMT should primarily be limited to use as a reward or reinforcement, and that parents should set time limits. Our findings offer new insights into the intersections of health communication theory and practice, while highlighting the need for greater research into RMT guidance for children with and without disabilities.