Building Skills, Confidence, and Wellness: Psychosocial Effects of Soft Skills Training for Young Adults with Autism.
Eight short work-focused social skills sessions lifted confidence and cut anxiety for young adults with HFASD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Connor et al. (2020) ran an eight-session work-related social skills group.
All 26 participants were young adults with high-functioning autism.
They met in small groups and practiced job interviews, small talk, and asking for help.
What they found
After the eight sessions, social confidence went up and anxiety went down.
Parents and participants both noticed the gains at home and at work sites.
How this fits with other research
EGranieri et al. (2020) pooled 18 trials and found tech-based SST works as well as face-to-face.
That meta-analysis supports adding video or app modules to the live group format.
McAuliffe et al. (2017) used the longer PEERS program for teens and also saw parent-reported gains.
The new study shows a shorter, work-focused version can still deliver similar benefits for adults.
Why it matters
You can run a brief, low-cost group and still see real-world gains.
Try carving out eight lunch-hour sessions at a vocational center.
Mix role-play with short video models, then send learners to practice on the job floor.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Recognizing that social functioning and mental health are linked to social participation and employment outcomes, this pilot study examined the preliminary outcomes of an eight-session, work-related social skills training program designed for young adults with high-functioning autism (HFASD). Results indicate statistically significant improvements in social cognition, social function, and social confidence. Furthermore, participants (n = 26) reported statistically significant reductions in anxiety, and a trend toward lessening depressive symptoms. These results suggest that: (1) social skills training is suitable for individuals with HFASD and clinically-significant levels of anxiety and/or depression, and (2) bolstered social functioning may have broader, cyclical impacts on social confidence, psychological wellness, and social and vocational participation in this population.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2020 · doi:10.1007/s10803-019-03962-w