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Cited by 17Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchSocial Skills and EducationBehavioral and Psychological Studies

New approaches to social skills training: blended group interventions for girls with social communication difficulties

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Wolstencroft, Jeanne, Kerry, Eleanor, Denyer, Hayley, Watkins, Alice, Mandy, William, Skuse, David·2021·Autism Research
DOI 10.1002/aur.2495
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Abstract

Social skills group interventions are increasing popular for children with social communication disorders but there is little evidence of their acceptability or effectiveness when delivered online. We report a feasibility study that adapted the Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) to provide an intensive 8 week online delivery to female adolescents, blended with some face-to-face group meetings. A systematic multiple-case series design with case tracking was developed, comprising a 3-month baseline, a 2-month intervention and a 3-month follow-up period. Seven adolescents with Turner Syndrome and social communication difficulties (17-20 years) took part, together with their parents. Acceptability and feasibility were assessed by means of qualitative feedback and attendance rates. Changes in social adaptation were tracked using measures of social knowledge, social behaviour and autistic symptoms, plus anxiety and self-esteem. Attendance rates were consistently high and there were no dropouts. Qualitative feedback indicated the online format was acceptable to both the participants and their families. Objective outcome measures showed significant gains in social knowledge and improved social initiations from measures made during the pre-intervention baseline. This proof-of-principle pilot study demonstrated blended social skills interventions are both feasible and acceptable to adolescent females with social communication difficulties. LAY SUMMARY: Social skills groups are increasingly popular for children with social communication disorders, but there is little evidence for their use online. Psychological treatments that require weekly face-to-face sessions for both children and their parents are associated with practical difficulties, disrupting family life and school commitments. Our study, is the first to use a blended online and face-to-face social skills training program for adolescent girls with social communication difficulties. We showed that this new approach to treatment was acceptable to families and has a positive and significant impact on participant's social performance and social knowledge. This new treatment approach may increase the accessibility of treatment for adolescents and young adults, especially those with social communication difficulties. Autism Res 2021, 14: 1061-1072. © 2021 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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  • Wolstencroft et al. report on a feasibility study that adapted the Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) to provide an intensive 8-week online course to female adolescents with TS, 17-20 years, blended with some face-to-face group meetings.

    “Wolstencroft et al.557 report on a feasibility study that adapted the Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) to provide an intensive 8-week online course to female adolescents with TS, 17-20 years, blended with some face-to-face group meetings.”

    From Clinical practice guidelines for the care of girls and women with Turner syndrome. (2024) · cites this paper as [557]

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Authors
Wolstencroft, J., Kerry, E., Denyer, H., Watkins, A., Mandy, W., & Skuse, D.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Wolstencroft, Jeanne
ORCID
Venue
Autism Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-03-10
Volume
14
Issue
5
Pages
1061-1072
ISSN
  • 1939-3792 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-3806
DOI
10.1002/aur.2495
OpenAlex
W3133866247
Cited by
17
References
55
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2
FWCI
1.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Autism Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Education › Social Skills and Education
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
Keywords
social skills training, peers, online intervention, social communication deficits, Turner syndrome, adolescent girls, social knowledge, social initiation, autism symptoms, anxiety, self-esteem, treatment acceptability, feasibility, parental involvement
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Autistic Disorder, Child, Communication, Female, Humans, Pilot Projects, Social Skills

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