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Social and Vocational Skills Training Reduces Self-reported Anxiety and Depression Among Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum

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Abstract

Those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently experience high levels of anxiety and depression. These psychological factors may be related to some of the core challenges seen among those with ASD, including social difficulties. We examined whether a social and vocational skills intervention program for adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum would yield a broader impact that partially alleviated these psychological factors. Following the intervention program participants reported significantly lower depression and anxiety. Responses on a measure of peer relationships were also improved post-intervention, although this did not reach significance. Although preliminary, our findings demonstrate the broader, positive impact that such programs may have.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded in part by grants from NINDS (K23 NS43222) (DQB), The Columbus Foundation, The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding, The Ingram-White Castle Foundation, and the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 Mahoney Hall, 870 Broadway Street, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA

    Ashleigh J. Hillier

  2. The Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Tom Fish & Jeffrey H. Siegel

  3. Departments of Radiology, Neurology, Psychological Sciences and the Thompson Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    David Q. Beversdorf

Authors
  1. Ashleigh J. Hillier
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  2. Tom Fish
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  3. Jeffrey H. Siegel
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  4. David Q. Beversdorf
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Correspondence to Ashleigh J. Hillier.

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Hillier, A.J., Fish, T., Siegel, J.H. et al. Social and Vocational Skills Training Reduces Self-reported Anxiety and Depression Among Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum. J Dev Phys Disabil 23, 267–276 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-011-9226-4

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