Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | Social Skills Development for Adolescents with ASD: A French Adaptation of the PEERS® Program |
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| Contribution code | D2.017 |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Aims This study assesses the translation, cultural adaptation, and implementation of the French version of the PEERS® program for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability in French-speaking Switzerland. Developed in the United States, PEERS® is an evidence-based, parent-assisted program designed to enhance social skills, including the ability to make and maintain friendships. Parents are included in the intervention to support their children in applying acquired social abilities. Method The sample consisted of 49 adolescents officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with a mean age of 16.87 years (SD=1.21) and a sex distribution of 67.35% male. To evaluate pre- and post-test differences, a series of questionnaires targeting social skills (TASSK), social responsiveness (SRS-2), anxiety (SAS-A, SAS-P), loneliness (L&SD), and friendship quality (FQS, QSPQ, QSPQ-P) were administered during the first and last PEERS sessions. After checking the normality of the distributions using a Shapiro-Wilk test, a t-test was conducted to analyze the differences between the pre-test and post-test measurements. Results After the PEERS group, and according to preliminary results, autistic adolescents significantly improved their knowledge of social skills and decreased conflicts during peers’ interactions. Also, according to parents' reports, social skills deficits and anxiety decreased, and social engagement (organized meetings) increased. These preliminary results point to a significant improvement in teenagers' social skills, and the positive effect these have on daily life (less conflict, less anxiety, increased times spent with friends). |