Efficacy of Parental Training In Addressing Developmental and Behavioural Difficulties Associated With Excessive Digital-Media Exposure: A Controlled Study

Abstract

Virtual autism is a new developmental problem linked to high screen time and low interaction with peers in the early years that results in autism-like symptoms. There has been growing evidence that excessive exposure to digital media during infancy and toddlerhood might have a negative impact on language, social communication, emotional regulation, attention function, and sensory processing. In the present controlled study, the effectiveness of a parental training program to reduce virtual symptoms of autism in young children exposed to high levels of screen time was explored. The total sample was 40 children aged 2-5 years who exhibited autism-like symptoms in relation to excessive digital exposure, which were split into two groups: the experimental group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). The experimental group was assigned to a structured intervention parental training program that emphasized screen reduction, responsive caregiving, communication enhancement, play-based interaction, emotional engagement, and healthy media practices for a period of 12 weeks, and the control group received developmental guidance as usual. Developmental screening, behavioral observation, interviews with parents, and symptom severity ratings of communication, social interaction, attention, emotional regulation, and screen dependency were all used for assessment. The statistical analysis of data, with the help of paired t-tests and independent t-tests, showed that there was significant improvement in communication skills, eye contact, social responsiveness, emotional regulation, and reduction of screen dependency for children in the experimental group compared to the control group. Findings reinforce the role of parent-mediated intervention and healthy media use in developmental outcomes of children with virtual autism symptoms. The research pointed out that it is important to identify children in early stages; awareness of parents, media hygiene education, and multi-disciplinary intervention methods are necessary to protect the neurodevelopment of children in the digital era.