Abstract
The effectiveness of a social skills training group for adolescents with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism (AS/HFA) was evaluated. Parents of six groups of adolescents (n = 46, 61% male, mean age 14.6) completed questionnaires immediately before and after the 12-week group. Parents and adolescents were surveyed regarding their experience with the group. Significant pre- to post-treatment gains were found on measures of both social competence and problem behaviors associated with AS/HFA. Effect sizes ranged from .34 to .72. Adolescents reported more perceived skill improvements than did parents. Parent-reported improvement suggests that social skills learned in group sessions generalize to settings outside the treatment group. Larger, controlled studies of social skills training groups would be valuable.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1960-1968 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of autism and developmental disorders |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescents
- Asperger syndrome
- High-functioning autism
- Pervasive developmental disorder
- Social skills training
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology