ERIC Number: EJ1355617
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Dec
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1088-3576
EISSN: EISSN-1538-4829
Social Validity and Preliminary Outcomes of a Mentoring Intervention for Adolescents and Adults with Autism
Weiler, Lindsey M.; Goerdt, Annie K.; Kremer, Kalli B.; Goldberg, Emily; Hudock, Rebekah L.
Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, v37 n4 p215-226 Dec 2022
Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are vulnerable to declines in social connections and an increase in depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring conditions. This study introduces a novel intervention that matches adolescents and adults with ASD in one-to-one mentoring relationships in an afterschool setting and examines its social validity. In this single-group, mixed-method pilot study, participants were seven adolescent mentees (14-18 years old; 100% male), seven adult mentors (19-33 years old; 71% male), and eight parents of mentees. A combination of project-specific and standardized assessments was used to describe the participants' perceptions of the program and to assess well-being, self-concept, and social-emotional and behavioral outcomes. Results showed high uptake, program satisfaction, positive ratings of mentoring relationship quality, and desirable pre- to post-test change on several targeted outcomes. This study provides preliminary evidence to support the applicability and utility of a mentoring program for adolescents with ASD by adults with ASD.
Descriptors: Adolescents, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Interpersonal Relationship, Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, At Risk Persons, Intervention, Adults, Mentors, After School Programs, Program Effectiveness, Well Being, Self Concept, Social Emotional Learning, Urban Schools, Students with Disabilities
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) (USDA)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A