Outcomes Associated with Participation in a Social Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Date
2018-07-06
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Abstract
Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and without intellectual impairment face a myriad of social and relational challenges targeted by many social skills training programs (SSTPs). One such program, the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), has an existing evidence base supporting the learning of curricular objectives. However, adolescents with ASD have additional challenges that may impact or be impacted by their social difficulties, including potential mental health problems, executive functioning (i.e., cognitive flexibility and inhibition) impairment, and parent-child relationship challenges. The current study expanded on previous research by examining the above-mentioned factors in adolescents who attended PEERS in a Canadian context. After inclusionary criteria were applied and data quality were examined, the final sample included 42 families (78% male), with adolescents ranging in age from 13 years, 6 months to 18 years, 8 months. Participation was associated with initial significant gains in social skills that were not maintained at follow-up. Though no improvements were seen in adolescent participants’ cognitive flexibility, their inhibitory control was significantly improved and maintained. Contrary to hypotheses, no changes in important markers of adolescent mental health were noted. Examination of parent-child relationships revealed significant positive relations between both attachment and communication and the social skills improvements made by adolescents. The findings from this study have important implications for the ongoing delivery of PEERS and provide insight into the relations between improving social relationships and skills for adolescents with ASD and other important secondary outcomes.
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Autism, Social Skills, Parent Child Relationships, Executive Function, Mental Health, Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills
Citation
Matchullis, R. L. (2018). Outcomes Associated with Participation in a Social Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/32325