Examining the Treatment Efficacy of PEERS in Japan: Improving Social Skills Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 976 - 997
• Main Authors: Yamada, Tomoko, Miura, Yui, Oi, Manabu, Akatsuka, Nozomi, Tanaka, Kazumi, Tsukidate, Naotake, Yamamoto, Tomoka, Okuno, Hiroko, Nakanishi, Mariko, Taniike, Masako, Mohri, Ikuko, Laugeson, Elizabeth A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Adolescents; Anxiety Disorders; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - rehabilitation; Autism Spectrum Disorder - therapy; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic adolescents; Behavior Therapy - methods; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Bullying; Care and treatment; Child and School Psychology; Child Development; Control Groups; Demographic aspects; Developmental Stages; Efficacy; Emotional behavior; Emotional disturbances; Emotional Problems; Emotions; Evidence Based Practice; Evidence-Based Practice - methods; Female; Foreign Countries; Friends - psychology; Friendship; Health aspects; Humans; Improvement Programs; Intellectual disabilities; Interpersonal Competence; Interpersonal Relationship; Japan; Japanese language; Male; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Peer Group; Peer Relationship; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Program Effectiveness; Psychological Patterns; Psychology; Public Health; Skill development; Social Adjustment; Social aspects; Social Cognition; Social education; Social functioning; Social Skills; Socialization; Teaching Skills; Teenagers; Treatment Outcome; Youth; Japan; Friendship; Social skills training; Adolescents; PEERS; Autism spectrum disorder
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04325-1

This study examines the efficacy of the Japanese version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), which focuses on improving social functioning through making friends and maintaining good relationships for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disabilities. Originally developed in the United States, PEERS is one of the few evidence-based social skills training programs for youth with ASD. The present study shows that with linguistic and cultural modifications, PEERS is effective in improving social functioning for adolescents with ASD in Japan. Positive results were found specifically in the areas of socialization, communication, knowledge of social skills, autistic mannerisms, and behavioral and emotional problems. In addition, most treatment gains were maintained at a 3-month follow-up assessment. These findings suggest that the Japanese version of PEERS is beneficial across multiple socio-emotional and behavioral domains for adolescents with ASD.