Background. Television viewing and gadget use are common among adolescents. Some studies found the negative effects of excessive television viewing and gadget use duration (hereinafter referred to as ‘screen time’), including obesity, sleep problem, low self-esteem, low socioemotional competence, social withdrawal, and social isolation. Accordingly, many studies have investigated the effectiveness of behavior-based intervention to reduce screen time in children and adolescent with typical development. To the best of our research, the study of screen time reduction intervention in children with developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, is limited. Whereas, the negative effects of excessive screen time can also affect children or adolescents with developmental disorders. Some studies found that children with autism spectrum disorder is more at risk of those negative effects, given the fact that they have difficulties in social interaction and most of them have sleep problem due to low melatonin. Hence, we found it necessary to conduct a study regarding the effectiveness of screen time reduction intervention in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of behavior modification techniques, specifically antecedents control and differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA) in reducing screen time on an adolescent with mild autism spectrum disorder.

Methods. This is a single case study with AB design. Pre and post treatment data in the form of total screen time duration in a day throughout the research period were collected and compared to evaluate the result of intervention. Subject’s mom was involved in this study, considering her role as primary caregiver who can monitor subject’s screen time activity. Her jobs were taking notes of subject’s screen time duration and attending all intervention sessions to deliver some activities with direct supervision from the clinician. Therefore, we gave her psychoeducation regarding the procedure and goal of the intervention before the treatment began. A total of 30 sessions were conducted, with five baseline sessions, 20 intervention sessions, and five follow-up sessions. The intervention phase was divided into 4 stages with different goals and rewards. The goal for each phase was reducing his daily screen time duration gradually (from 6 hours 21 minutes to 2 hours in the last intervention stage). Participant of this study was a 12-year-and-10-month old male adolescent who was diagnosed with mild autism spectrum disorder.

Results. The result of this study is still under investigation. We are still in second stage of intervention phase when this abstract is submitted. Based on our agenda, the result will be available by the end of August 2018.

Added-Values. This study provides finding about the effectiveness of behavior modification intervention in reducing screen time on children or adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Contribution to the society. The intervention methods which were conducted in this study can be applied by psychologist, therapist, teachers, and parents who are trying to reduce screen time duration in children or adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Keywords: antecedents control, differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA), autism spectrum disorder