TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining the feasibility and effectiveness of PEERS for adolescents via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Lee, Chimei M.
AU - Petricek, Connor
AU - Haga, Morgan
AU - Smalley, Samantha
AU - Pelletier, Katherine
AU - Essa, Nimco
AU - Hudock, Rebekah L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - Background: The PEERS program is an evidence-based social skills intervention focusing on skills related to making and keeping friends as well as managing conflict and rejections. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, social skills interventions have been moving to virtual settings, including PEERS; however, limited research on the feasibility and efficacy of telehealth group therapy has been done. Method: Thirty-four families were referred through an autism specialty clinic to complete the online PEERS program, and fourteen families completed measures of social skills, emotional and behavioral symptoms, and executive functioning before and after participating in the program. Results: The outcomes revealed significant improvements in participants' social skills knowledge, social communication, social motivation, and aspects of executive functioning. Participants also reported being satisfied with the online format, further supporting the hypothesis that the modified PEERS program, held virtually, is feasible and effective. Conclusion: Our results support that the telehealth PEERS program offers a good alternative to the in-person modality and other social skills programs, especially for families who have difficulty accessing evidence-based programming for autistic adolescents due to geographical or transportation limitations as well as for families who prefer the convenience of participating in this program virtually.
AB - Background: The PEERS program is an evidence-based social skills intervention focusing on skills related to making and keeping friends as well as managing conflict and rejections. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, social skills interventions have been moving to virtual settings, including PEERS; however, limited research on the feasibility and efficacy of telehealth group therapy has been done. Method: Thirty-four families were referred through an autism specialty clinic to complete the online PEERS program, and fourteen families completed measures of social skills, emotional and behavioral symptoms, and executive functioning before and after participating in the program. Results: The outcomes revealed significant improvements in participants' social skills knowledge, social communication, social motivation, and aspects of executive functioning. Participants also reported being satisfied with the online format, further supporting the hypothesis that the modified PEERS program, held virtually, is feasible and effective. Conclusion: Our results support that the telehealth PEERS program offers a good alternative to the in-person modality and other social skills programs, especially for families who have difficulty accessing evidence-based programming for autistic adolescents due to geographical or transportation limitations as well as for families who prefer the convenience of participating in this program virtually.
KW - Feasibility
KW - Outcome
KW - PEERS
KW - Social skills group
KW - Telehealth
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U2 - 10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102279
DO - 10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102279
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85175818293
SN - 1750-9467
VL - 109
JO - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
JF - Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
M1 - 102279
ER -