Exploring the Feasibility of Social Skills Programs for Autistic Youth Through Virtual Reality

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Social Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Autistic individuals often require lifelong support in adaptive functioning and social well-being.
• There is a recognized need for personalized, community-informed social programs for autistic adolescents and adults.
• Emerging technologies, including virtual reality (VR), are being investigated for their therapeutic potential in supporting autistic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions of autistic adolescents and their parents concerning social development.
• To understand attitudes towards social skills interventions delivered via technologies like VR.
• To gather insights for developing effective, technology-enhanced social programs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing five semi-structured focus groups.
• Involved eight autistic adolescents (ages 12-17) and five parents.
• Data analyzed using an open thematic approach and inductive coding.

Main Results:

• Seven key themes emerged: adolescent social skills (self/parent-reported), family dynamics, social goals, online vs. in-person friendships, technology experience, openness to VR, and VR concerns.
• Themes were consistent across both adolescent and parent groups.
• Identified crucial factors for designing acceptable and effective social interventions.

Conclusions:

• Autistic individuals and their families have valuable insights into social development and technology use.
• Findings offer guidance for researchers developing innovative, person-centered social programs.
• Technology, particularly VR, shows potential for delivering social skills interventions if designed with user input.