Zoccante Leonardo, Sabaini Sara, Rigotti Erika, Bonatti Sophia Marlene, Lintas Camilla, Zaffanello Marco
Childhood, Adolescence, Families and Family Health Center, Azienda Ulss 9 Scaligera, 37122 Verona, Italy.
Department of Paediatrics, Woman's & Child's, University Hospital of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy.
Pediatr Rep. 2025 Jan 14;17(1):6. doi: 10.3390/pediatric17010006.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Level 1 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by challenges in social and communication skills. Despite these difficulties, individuals with level 1 ASD often exhibit average intelligence and typical language development. Improving socialisation skills in this population requires tailored approaches that address their specific needs and include targeted strategies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured social skills training programme for adolescents and young adults with level 1 ASD.
Participants diagnosed with level 1 ASD, regardless of gender, were consecutively recruited from an outpatient clinic. The intervention involved activities from the Social Skills, Autonomy, and Awareness Module, specifically designed for adolescents and young adults. Sessions were conducted fortnightly, lasting 1.5 to 3 h each, over 17 months. Adaptive behaviour was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) at baseline and after completing the programme. Data were analysed with SPSS version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Statistical methods included automatic clustering to identify optimal clusters and Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests to evaluate variable distributions among the clusters.
A total of 31 participants (77.4% female) with a mean age of 20.1 years (SD = 7.0) were included in the study. Two distinct clusters emerged. Cluster 1 (n = 8) had significantly higher mean ages and baseline Vineland II socialisation scores than Cluster 2 (n = 23). Both clusters demonstrated significant improvements in social skills following the intervention.
This study highlights distinct profiles within individuals with level 1 ASD, showing a clear link between age and social skill development. The intervention improved social skills for most participants, regardless of the age at which treatment began. For some individuals, alternative or augmented treatment strategies may be necessary to achieve optimal results.
背景/目的：1级自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种神经发育障碍，其特征是社交和沟通技能存在挑战。尽管存在这些困难，但1级ASD患者通常具有平均智力和典型的语言发展能力。提高这一人群的社交技能需要针对其特定需求的量身定制方法，并包括有针对性的策略。本研究旨在评估一项结构化社交技能培训计划对1级ASD青少年和青年的有效性。
从门诊连续招募被诊断为1级ASD的参与者，不限性别。干预包括社交技能、自主性和意识模块中的活动，这些活动是专门为青少年和青年设计的。课程每两周进行一次，每次持续1.5至3小时，为期17个月。在基线和完成该计划后，使用文兰适应行为量表（VABS）评估适应行为。数据使用SPSS 22.0版（SPSS公司，美国伊利诺伊州芝加哥）进行分析。统计方法包括自动聚类以识别最佳聚类，以及Pearson卡方检验和Fisher精确检验以评估聚类之间的变量分布。
共有31名参与者（77.4%为女性）纳入研究，平均年龄为20.1岁（标准差=7.0）。出现了两个不同的聚类。聚类1（n = 8）的平均年龄和基线文兰II社交化得分显著高于聚类2（n = 23）。两个聚类在干预后社交技能均有显著改善。
本研究突出了1级ASD个体中的不同特征，显示出年龄与社交技能发展之间的明确联系。干预改善了大多数参与者的社交技能，无论治疗开始时的年龄如何。对于一些个体，可能需要替代或增强的治疗策略以达到最佳效果。
