title: Parents Perceive Improvements in Socio-emotional Functioning in Adolescents with ASD Following Social Skills Treatment.
abstract: The current study examined the effectiveness of a social skills treatment (PEERS) for improving socio-emotional competencies in a sample of high-functioning adolescents with ASD. Neuropsychological and self- and parent-report measures assessing social, emotional, and behavioral functioning were administered before and after treatment. Following social skills treatment, adolescents with ASD exhibited decreased aggression, anxiety, and withdrawal, as well as improvements in emotional responsiveness, adaptability, leadership, and participation in activities of daily living, though no change was found in affect recognition abilities. These findings suggest that PEERS social skills treatment improves particular aspects of emotional, behavioral, and social functioning that may be necessary for developing and maintaining quality peer relationships and remediating social isolation in adolescents with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall 2739, 3700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA. dlordo@slu.edu.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: N Lordo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall 2739, 3700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
authors.forename: Madison
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall 2739, 3700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: L Sudikoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall 2739, 3700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
authors.forename: Cierra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University, 3800 Park Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braddock
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall 2739, 3700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
authors.forename: David A S
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D001007:Anxiety; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012934:Social Isolation; D066107:Social Skills; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Adolescents; Autism spectrum disorder; PEERS; Social skills treatment