Kim Sunny, Johnson Amanda R, Wolpe Samara M, Volodina Elena
University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA.
University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA.
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Oct 24. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06571-4.
Many autistic individuals may desire support and services primarily in the areas of adaptive functioning and social well-being throughout their lifetime. There is a need for community-informed and person-centered social programs targeted for autistic adolescents and adults. New technology, such as virtual reality (VR), is being researched to assess the feasibility of providing therapeutic services to autistic individuals. This qualitative study aims to better understand and explore the perceptions of parents and autistic adolescents regarding social development and thoughts around social skills interventions delivered through technologies such as VR. Eight autistic adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17, and five parents participated across five focus groups. The focus group interviews were semi-structured, and qualitative data analysis was conducted through an open thematic approach and inductive coding process. Seven primary themes with sub-themes were identified throughout the focus group interview discussions: Social Skills of the participating autistic adolescents as reported by their parents and by self-report, Family Dynamics affecting social relationships within the family, Social Skills Goals both groups hoped to develop and improve, the existence and quality of In-Person vs. Online Friendships, Experience/Comfort With Technology, Openness to Virtual Environments, and Concerns for Virtual Environments. Researchers identified these themes across both parent and adolescent focus groups. This study provides guidance to the research community on investigating different innovative approaches for offering a social program that is supported by autistic individuals.
许多自闭症患者可能一生都主要在适应功能和社会福祉领域需要支持和服务。需要为自闭症青少年和成年人制定以社区为导向、以人为本的社会项目。虚拟现实（VR）等新技术正在接受研究，以评估为自闭症患者提供治疗服务的可行性。这项定性研究旨在更好地理解和探索家长和自闭症青少年对社会发展的看法，以及对通过VR等技术提供的社交技能干预措施的想法。12至17岁的八名自闭症青少年和五名家长参与了五个焦点小组。焦点小组访谈采用半结构化形式，定性数据分析通过开放主题法和归纳编码过程进行。在焦点小组访谈讨论中确定了七个主要主题及子主题：家长报告和自我报告中参与研究的自闭症青少年的社交技能、影响家庭内部社会关系的家庭动态、两组都希望培养和提高的社交技能目标、面对面与线上友谊的存在情况和质量、对技术的体验/舒适度、对虚拟环境的接受度以及对虚拟环境的担忧。研究人员在家长和青少年焦点小组中都确定了这些主题。这项研究为研究界提供了指导，以调查提供受自闭症患者支持的社会项目的不同创新方法。
