A Replication and Extension of the PEERS® for Young Adults Social Skills Intervention: Examining Effects on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Alana J. McVey, Bridget K. Dolan, Kirsten S. Willar, Sheryl Pleiss, Jeffrey S. Karst, Christina L. Casnar, Christina Caiozzo, Elisabeth M. Vogt, Nakia S. Gordon, Amy Vaughan Van Hecke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Young adults with ASD experience difficulties with social skills, empathy, loneliness, and social anxiety. One intervention, PEERS® for Young Adults, shows promise in addressing these challenges. The present study replicated and extended the original study by recruiting a larger sample (N = 56), employing a gold standard ASD assessment tool, and examining changes in social anxiety utilizing a randomized controlled trial design. Results indicated improvements in social responsiveness (SSIS-RS SS, p =.006 and CPB, p =.005; SRS, p =.004), PEERS® knowledge (TYASSK, p =.001), empathy (EQ, p =.044), direct interactions (QSQ-YA, p =.059), and social anxiety (LSAS-SR, p =.019). Findings demonstrate further empirical support for the intervention for individuals with ASD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3739-3754
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume46
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Keywords

  • ASD
  • Autism
  • Intervention
  • Social anxiety
  • Social skills
  • Young adulthood

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