Social Skill Interventions for Youth and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This article is intended to synthesize the broader literature investigating the effectiveness and salient features of interventions designed to enhance the social competence of youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder remain poor with only minimal improvement shown for decades. Among 796 articles reviewed, 42 representative social skill intervention studies met the selection criteria and were coded descriptively for design elements and findings. The review synthesizes and classifies the major categories and issues associated with the key features of the intervention (e.g., the intervention method, agent, tools, and measures), nature of the learning tasks, the implementation setting and length, research methodology, and key findings related to social competence.