Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by significant challenges in social communication and interaction, often accompanied by comorbid neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. These social difficulties can interfere with the development of pragma...

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Autores: Mairena MA, Alcover C, Arias-Pujol E, Díez-Juan M, Mezzatesta Gava M, Elias N, Sentenach A, Elias M, Piera E, González M, Solomon M, Aranbarri A
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
Repositorio:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
OAI Identifier:oai:fsjd.fundanetsuite.com:p29890
Acceso en línea:https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=29890
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:adolescence
autism spectrum disorders
child
public mental health
social skills
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spelling Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.Mairena MAAlcover CArias-Pujol EDíez-Juan MMezzatesta Gava MElias NSentenach AElias MPiera EGonzález MSolomon MAranbarri Aadolescenceautism spectrum disorderschildpublic mental healthsocial skillsBACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by significant challenges in social communication and interaction, often accompanied by comorbid neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. These social difficulties can interfere with the development of pragmatic language use, social problem-solving abilities and quality of life. Social skills interventions have shown promising results in addressing these challenges, yet there is a need to adapt such programs for broader, publicly funded settings to enhance accessibility and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: This study reports on a randomized, waitlist-controlled pilot efficacy trial evaluating an adapted version of the Social Adjustment Enhancement Intervention Program implemented in a university-affiliated public mental health hospital. METHODS: A 10-session group-based intervention was delivered to 79 autistic participants aged 8-17 years. Social behaviors were assessed before and after the intervention using structured observational methodology, and comorbid internalizing symptoms were measured via parent-report standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the subgroup of children and in participants with higher verbal IQ, particularly in eye contact and functional communication, as measured through observational methodology. Additionally, a reduction in internalizing symptoms was found among children in the experimental group. In the full sample, no statistically significant effects were observed, although trends in the same direction were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the feasibility and pilot evidence of intervention effects of this adapted social skills program, particularly for younger autistic individuals and those with higher verbal abilities. The results underscore the importance of tailoring interventions to age and cognitive profiles, and highlight the value of accessible, evidence-based approaches in public mental health systems. Further research is needed to optimize intervention design and evaluate long-term outcomes.FRONTIERS MEDIA SA2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=29890Frontiers in PsychiatryISSN: 16640640reponame:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déuinstname:Fundació Sant Joan de DéuInglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:fsjd.fundanetsuite.com:p298902026-05-27T12:37:41Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
title Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
spellingShingle Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
Mairena MA
adolescence
autism spectrum disorders
child
public mental health
social skills
title_short Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
title_full Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
title_fullStr Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
title_full_unstemmed Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
title_sort Bridging research and practice: a pilot trial of an adapted social skills program for autism in public services.
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Mairena MA
Alcover C
Arias-Pujol E
Díez-Juan M
Mezzatesta Gava M
Elias N
Sentenach A
Elias M
Piera E
González M
Solomon M
Aranbarri A
author Mairena MA
author_facet Mairena MA
Alcover C
Arias-Pujol E
Díez-Juan M
Mezzatesta Gava M
Elias N
Sentenach A
Elias M
Piera E
González M
Solomon M
Aranbarri A
author_role author
author2 Alcover C
Arias-Pujol E
Díez-Juan M
Mezzatesta Gava M
Elias N
Sentenach A
Elias M
Piera E
González M
Solomon M
Aranbarri A
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv adolescence
autism spectrum disorders
child
public mental health
social skills
topic adolescence
autism spectrum disorders
child
public mental health
social skills
description BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by significant challenges in social communication and interaction, often accompanied by comorbid neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. These social difficulties can interfere with the development of pragmatic language use, social problem-solving abilities and quality of life. Social skills interventions have shown promising results in addressing these challenges, yet there is a need to adapt such programs for broader, publicly funded settings to enhance accessibility and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: This study reports on a randomized, waitlist-controlled pilot efficacy trial evaluating an adapted version of the Social Adjustment Enhancement Intervention Program implemented in a university-affiliated public mental health hospital. METHODS: A 10-session group-based intervention was delivered to 79 autistic participants aged 8-17 years. Social behaviors were assessed before and after the intervention using structured observational methodology, and comorbid internalizing symptoms were measured via parent-report standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the subgroup of children and in participants with higher verbal IQ, particularly in eye contact and functional communication, as measured through observational methodology. Additionally, a reduction in internalizing symptoms was found among children in the experimental group. In the full sample, no statistically significant effects were observed, although trends in the same direction were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the feasibility and pilot evidence of intervention effects of this adapted social skills program, particularly for younger autistic individuals and those with higher verbal abilities. The results underscore the importance of tailoring interventions to age and cognitive profiles, and highlight the value of accessible, evidence-based approaches in public mental health systems. Further research is needed to optimize intervention design and evaluate long-term outcomes.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=29890
url https://fsjd.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=29890
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
publisher.none.fl_str_mv FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers in Psychiatry
ISSN: 16640640
reponame:r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
instname:Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
instname_str Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
reponame_str r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
collection r-FSJD. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica de la Fundació Sant Joan de Déu
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