Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous training for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents, with a focus on social skills enhancement (STSSE) by evaluating behavioral changes in children with ASD and changes in family functioning. STSSE...

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Main Authors: Hiroko Okuno, Tomoka Yamamoto, Aika Tatsumi, Ikuko Mohri, Masako Taniike
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-06-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/6/590
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spelling doaj-9823981da0cb4be486ac930e5b6b41fd2020-11-24T21:00:04ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012016-06-0113659010.3390/ijerph13060590ijerph13060590Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills EnhancementHiroko Okuno0Tomoka Yamamoto1Aika Tatsumi2Ikuko Mohri3Masako Taniike4United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, JapanMolecular Research Center for Children’s Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, JapanMolecular Research Center for Children’s Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, JapanUnited Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, JapanUnited Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, JapanThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous training for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents, with a focus on social skills enhancement (STSSE) by evaluating behavioral changes in children with ASD and changes in family functioning. STSSE was conducted on 17 children of elementary school age with ASD and their parents. Changes in scores on the social skills scale for education (SS-scale), the child behavior checklist, the Feetham Family Functioning Survey (FFFS), and the confidence degree questionnaire for families (CDQ) were used to assess the effectiveness of STSSE. Improvements were seen for “Communication Skills” on the children’s SS-scale (p = 0.029). Significant improvements were seen in the mothers’ FFFS scores for “The 4th factor: illness and worries” (p = 0.016) and in the median CDQ scores for one of 18 items after STSSE (p = 0.01). Although additional studies with larger sample sizes will be necessary before these findings are generalizable, the positive changes seen in both parents and children as a result of STSSE are promising.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/6/590autism spectrum disorder (ASD)social skillsfamily functioningparental confidence
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Hiroko Okuno
Tomoka Yamamoto
Aika Tatsumi
Ikuko Mohri
Masako Taniike
spellingShingle Hiroko Okuno
Tomoka Yamamoto
Aika Tatsumi
Ikuko Mohri
Masako Taniike
Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
social skills
family functioning
parental confidence
author_facet Hiroko Okuno
Tomoka Yamamoto
Aika Tatsumi
Ikuko Mohri
Masako Taniike
author_sort Hiroko Okuno
title Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement
title_short Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement
title_full Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement
title_fullStr Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement
title_full_unstemmed Simultaneous Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents with a Focus on Social Skills Enhancement
title_sort simultaneous training for children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents with a focus on social skills enhancement
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1660-4601
publishDate 2016-06-01
description The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous training for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents, with a focus on social skills enhancement (STSSE) by evaluating behavioral changes in children with ASD and changes in family functioning. STSSE was conducted on 17 children of elementary school age with ASD and their parents. Changes in scores on the social skills scale for education (SS-scale), the child behavior checklist, the Feetham Family Functioning Survey (FFFS), and the confidence degree questionnaire for families (CDQ) were used to assess the effectiveness of STSSE. Improvements were seen for “Communication Skills” on the children’s SS-scale (p = 0.029). Significant improvements were seen in the mothers’ FFFS scores for “The 4th factor: illness and worries” (p = 0.016) and in the median CDQ scores for one of 18 items after STSSE (p = 0.01). Although additional studies with larger sample sizes will be necessary before these findings are generalizable, the positive changes seen in both parents and children as a result of STSSE are promising.
topic autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
social skills
family functioning
parental confidence
url http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/6/590
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