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Virtual Reality in Transition Program for Adults with Autism: Self-Efficacy, Confidence, and Interview Skills

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Abstract

Adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) are understudied within the literature, especially within the context of employment. Extant data, though limited, suggests competitive integrated employment rates which are significantly lower than nuerotypical individuals. Researchers have suggested that one factor related to these low employment rates are limited interview skills demonstrated by individuals with HFASD. Additionally, individuals with HFASD tend to report lower levels of self-confidence and self-efficacy (SE), within the context of their ability to successfully pass a job interview. Benefits of employment for those with HFASD include a sense of purpose, independence, and social interaction, all of which improve wellness. To address these needs, a Virtual Reality Job Interview Training Program (VR-JIT) was implemented in an adult transition program to improve job interview skills. As such, this exploratory study examined pre-post changes in participants’ SE and self-confidence specific to their perceived interview skills; VR-JIT was a viable method to improve confidence and skill with interviewing and may help improve vocational opportunities that are linked with wellness for those with HFASD.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the young adults who participated in this study as well as the following professional educators for their contributions to this study: Courtney Winford, Andrew Kuhlman, and Jason Hartgraves.

Funding

This study was supported by the California Association of School Psychologists, Scientist Practitioner Award. The second author would like to thank California State University Dominguez Hills for the Legacy Grant that provided release time to endeavor in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Education, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, 90747, USA

    Deborah M. Ward & M. C. Kate Esposito

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  1. Deborah M. Ward
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  2. M. C. Kate Esposito
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Correspondence to Deborah M. Ward.

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Ethics

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants in this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ward, D.M., Esposito, M.C.K. Virtual Reality in Transition Program for Adults with Autism: Self-Efficacy, Confidence, and Interview Skills. Contemp School Psychol 23, 423–431 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-018-0195-9

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