Login | Register

Examining Effective Social Skills Interventions for Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Skills Deficits: The UCLA PEERS Program

Title:

Examining Effective Social Skills Interventions for Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Skills Deficits: The UCLA PEERS Program

Marchica, Loredana (2014) Examining Effective Social Skills Interventions for Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Skills Deficits: The UCLA PEERS Program. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of Marchica_MA_S2014.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
Marchica_MA_S2014.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Spectrum Terms of Access.
4MB

Abstract

The present study examines the efficacy of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), a parent-assisted social skills group intervention created at UCLA with a group of youths 13-17 years old with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and social skills deficits. Over the course of 7 weeks both youths and parents met twice a week and participated in their respective groups following the PEERS program. Social skill improvements were measured using the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS; Gresham & Elliot, 2008) and the Quality of Play Questionnaire (QPQ; Frankel & Mintz, 2011) at the beginning of the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and at a 7-week follow-up. Results indicated that after the program there were significant increases in assertion on Student Forms of the SSIS-RS. Additionally, there were significant increases in Mean Get-togethers, Mean Number of Friends Listed and a significant decrease in Conflict Levels on both Parent and Student Forms of the QPQ. Results from the 7-week follow-up indicated significant increases in social skills and significant decreases in problem behaviors on Student Forms of the SSIS-RS. Further, there were significant decreases in Observed Conflict Levels on both Parent and Student Forms of the QPQ. Parents also reported that participating in the program provided them with invaluable resources and tools, as well as, increasing their self-efficacy and providing them with emotional support from other parents who share similar experiences. Implications of the PEERS program as a social skills intervention for adolescents with ASD are discussed.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Education
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Marchica, Loredana
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A.
Program:Child Studies
Date:14 April 2014
Thesis Supervisor(s):D'Amico, Miranda
ID Code:978467
Deposited By: LOREDANA MARCHICA
Deposited On:26 Jun 2014 20:12
Last Modified:18 Jan 2018 17:46
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top