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The Efficacy of a Social Skills Group Intervention for Improving Social Behaviors in Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

This study tested the efficacy of a new social skills intervention, S ocial S kills GR oup IN tervention-High Functioning Autism (S.S.GRIN-HFA), designed to improve social behaviors in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. Fifty-five children were randomly assigned to S.S.GRIN-HFA treatment (n = 27) or control (i.e., traditional S.S.GRIN intervention; n = 28). Examination of the direction and magnitude of change in functioning revealed that children who participated in S.S.GRIN-HFA exhibited significantly greater mastery of social skill concepts compared to children in the control group. Parents of S.S.GRIN-HFA group participants reported an improved sense of social self-efficacy, whereas parents of control participants reported a decline. The advantages of a specialized intervention such as S.S.GRIN-HFA, designed specifically for children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders, are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) through contract HHS-N-271-2006-64102-C. The authors would like to thank the parents and children who participated in this research as well as the clinical staff of 3-C Family Services who expertly delivered the interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The 3-C Institute for Social Development, 1901 North Harrison Avenue, Suite 200, Cary, NC, 27513, USA

    Melissa E. DeRosier, Danielle C. Swick, Naomi Ornstein Davis & Janey Sturtz McMillen

  2. 3-C Family Services, 1901 N. Harrison Avenue, Suite 100, Cary, NC, 27513, USA

    Rebecca Matthews

Authors
  1. Melissa E. DeRosier
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  2. Danielle C. Swick
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  3. Naomi Ornstein Davis
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  4. Janey Sturtz McMillen
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  5. Rebecca Matthews
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Correspondence to Melissa E. DeRosier.

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DeRosier, M.E., Swick, D.C., Davis, N.O. et al. The Efficacy of a Social Skills Group Intervention for Improving Social Behaviors in Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 1033–1043 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1128-2

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