Challenges with social communication are a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For example, people with ASD may experience difficulty making eye contact, interpreting non-verbal cues, initiating interactions, engaging in back-and-forth conversation, and understanding what others are thinking or feeling. These difficulties can inhibit the ability to form relationships with peers, which can contribute to feelings of isolation and related mood concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety). Moreover, a lack of appropriate social skills can contribute to an increased susceptibility to bullying. Compared to neurotypical people, people with ASD may need to be explicitly taught social skills. Therefore, social skills training is a helpful intervention.

Social skills training is one evidence-based method for helping people with ASD better understand and engage in appropriate social interactions. Studies also indicate that developing appropriate social skills can increase appropriate peer interactions, increase academic performance, and reduce externalizing behaviors.

What Does Social Skills Training Look Like?

Social skills training can occur in a number of formats. For example, social skills training includes:

Social skills groups: opportunity for people with ASD to practice social skills with others who also have ASD
Peer-mediated instruction and interventions: children without ASD are trained to be “peer mentors” and work with children with ASD to facilitate social and play interactions
Social stories and scripts: written or visual materials are used to describe a particular social concept
Video modeling: an individual watches a video demonstration of a social behavior and attempts to execute that same behavior

Examples of skills targeted in social skills programs include:

Initiating conversations
Appropriate eye contact
Understanding emotions and facial expressions
Gestures and body language
Perspective-taking
Empathy
Initiating and maintaining friendships

Benefits of Social Skills Training

Research indicates that social skills training is beneficial for children through young adults. Children and adolescents who participated in social skills training exhibited increased social awareness, social motivation, and social communication skills. Among young adults, social skills training has been associated with increased cooperative social behavior, social assertiveness, social responsiveness, self-control, and empathy. Overall, social skills are important for developing relationships and making friends. Social skills are also helpful for academic and job performance.

Summary

Social communication challenges are a core feature of ASD. These challenges can inhibit people’s ability to form relationships and contribute to feelings of isolation and related mood concerns. Compared to neurotypical people, people with ASD may need to be explicitly taught social skills. Social skills training is one evidence-based method for helping people with ASD engage in more appropriate social interactions. Social skills training can occur in different formats and targets skills such as initiating friendships, perspective-taking, and more. According to research, social skills training is beneficial for children through young adults and improves a range of outcomes (e.g., social responsiveness, empathy, social motivation).

Upside Therapy has social skills groups for middle school students, high school students, and young adults (ages 18 to 29 years) with ASD. If you are interested in services, please call 972-519-1692 or email info@upsidetherapy.com.

References

Bellini, S., & Peters, J. K. (2008). Social skills training for youth with autism spectrum disorders. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 17(4), 857-873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2008.06.008

Cappadocia, M. C., & Weiss, J. A. (2011). Review of social skills training groups for youth with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.001

Gantman, A., Kapp, S. K., Orenski, K., & Laugeson, E. A. (2012). Social skills training for young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 1094-1103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1350-6

Ke, F., Moon, J., & Sokolikj, Z. (2022). Virtual reality–based social skills training for children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Special Education Technology, 37(1), 49-62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162643420945603

Miller, A., Vernon, T., Wu, V., & Russo, K. (2014). Social skill group interventions for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1, 254–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-014-0017-6

Tse, J., Strulovitch, J., Tagalakis, V., Meng, L., & Fombonne, E. (2007). Social skills training for adolescents with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(10), 1960–1968. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0343-3