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Validating a Culturally-sensitive Social Competence Training Programme for Adolescents with ASD in a Chinese Context: An Initial Investigation

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Abstract

Previous studies on social skills training on ASD were done almost exclusively in the West with children as the main subjects. Demonstrations of the applicability of social interventions in different cultures and age groups are warranted. The current study outlined the development and preliminary evaluation of a CBT-context-based social competence training for ASD (CBT-CSCA) developed in Hong Kong for Chinese adolescents with ASD. Twenty-five adolescents (aged 12–17 years, with a FSIQ above 80) were recruited. Significant improvements in social competence, autistic symptoms and general psychopathology at post-training and 3-month follow-up were reported by the parents. The study provided initial evidence support to the applicability of social competence training for adolescents with ASD in a different culture.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for its financial support to the Jockey Club iREACH Social Competence Development Center, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. We would also like to thank Fan Mui Ying, Joe Chan, Wendy Tam, Jade Wong, Rita So, Bonnie Poon, Derek Li, Ming Tam, Lau Chi Ming and Keith Wong for their valuable assistance in this study. We are grateful to the adolescents and families who participated.

Author Contributions

RC and SY developed the study. CL wrote the first draft of the manuscript under the supervision of RC & SY. DN performed the statistical analysis and wrote the results part. RC revised and finalized the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Jockey Club iREACH Social Competence Development Center, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Room 913-914, 9/F, Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, China

    Raymond Won Shing Chan, Cecilia Nga Wing Leung, Denise Ching Yiu Ng & Sania Sau Wai Yau

Authors
  1. Raymond Won Shing Chan
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  2. Cecilia Nga Wing Leung
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  3. Denise Ching Yiu Ng
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  4. Sania Sau Wai Yau
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Correspondence to Raymond Won Shing Chan.

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Chan, R.W.S., Leung, C.N.W., Ng, D.C.Y. et al. Validating a Culturally-sensitive Social Competence Training Programme for Adolescents with ASD in a Chinese Context: An Initial Investigation. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 450–460 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3335-6

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