Browsing by Author "Azarkam, Patricia"

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    Evaluating the Effects of Social Intervention on Social Cognition in Young Adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
    (2016) Azarkam, Patricia; McCrimmon, Adam; Gabrielle Wilcox, Kelly Dean Schwartz
    The current study examined the social cognition of young adults with “high functioning” autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) following the completion of a manualized social skills intervention. The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for Young Adults (PEERS-YA; Laugeson & Frankel, 2015) is a 16-week parent/caregiver-supported, evidence-based, out-patient clinical group intervention designed to help young adults with HFASD develop and maintain lasting friendships. Young adult participants and their parent/caregiver completed formal psychological measures of social skills and social cognition (emotional intelligence and theory of mind) at four time intervals: 1) baseline (3 months before the intervention), 2) pre-test (immediately before the intervention), 3) post-test (one week after the intervention), and 4) follow-up (3 months post-intervention). The results indicate significant improvements in parent-reported social skills and in emotional intelligence at post-test and at follow up, and in theory of mind at post-test. The implications of these findings will be discussed.