{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T05:02:43Z","timestamp":1789102963670,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,5]],"date-time":"2026-02-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770249600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Technological advancements have produced several positive outcomes, especially for those with disabilities, as technology can help compensate for certain limitations. However, these advancements have also yielded adverse outcomes due to the overuse of technology, such as Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of IGD among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), determine its prevalence among males and females across different age groups, and identify differences in IGD based on sex and age.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this cross-sectional comparative study, a simple random sampling method was employed to explore the prevalence of IGD among individuals with ASD and identify differences in IGD based on sex and age. Group comparisons were conducted using the Mann\u2013Whitney U and Kruskal\u2013Wallis tests. This study employed the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale\u2013Short-Form after preparing a parent-report version and verifying its psychometric properties through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Overall, the study sample comprised 276 parents of children with ASD in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>IGD prevalence was 44.56, 49.72, and 35.35% among individuals with ASD, males, and females, respectively. Its prevalence was 27.27, 62.22, and 42.20% among individuals aged 6\u201312, 12\u201318, and &amp;gt;18\u202fyears, respectively. The results revealed statistically significant sex differences, with females exhibiting higher levels of IGD severity than males. Statistically significant differences were also observed across age groups, with the highest IGD levels occurring in the 12\u201318-year-old age group.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>IGD is prevalent among individuals with ASD, with higher rates observed during adolescence. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop targeted intervention and counseling programs, as well as provide the necessary entertainment programs and activities, to help individuals with ASD reduce their gaming time.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1718787","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,5]],"date-time":"2026-02-05T06:45:13Z","timestamp":1770273913000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Internet gaming disorder among individuals with autism spectrum disorder in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a comparative study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Mahmoud Mohamed","family":"Eltantawy","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Special Education, College of Education, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU)","place":["Riyadh, Saudi 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