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A single-blind active-control randomized controlled trial of group-based social competence intervention
Erin Kang1, Tamara E Rosen2,3, Cara M Keifer4
1Psychology Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, USA. kange@montclair.edu.
Scientific Reports
|August 7, 2025
Summary
The Socio-Dramatic Affective-Relational Intervention (SDARI) improved social functioning in autistic youth, showing benefits in social information processing and peer relationships. Parent expectations also influenced perceived social skills improvements.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Social Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Autistic youth often face challenges in social skills and peer interactions.
- Effective interventions are needed to improve social functioning in this population.
- Evaluating specific intervention components is crucial for understanding treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the specific effects of the Socio-Dramatic Affective-Relational Intervention (SDARI) compared to an active control.
- To assess the impact of SDARI on social information processing and peer relationships in autistic youth.
- To explore the influence of parental expectancy on perceived treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A blinded randomized controlled trial involving 55 autistic youth (ages 12.40 ± 2.92).
- Interventions (SDARI vs. active control) comprised 10 weekly sessions, matched for structure and participant characteristics.
- Multimethod assessments included behavioral observations, peer ratings, social information processing (N170 ERP), and parent reports.
Main Results:
- SDARI group showed improvements in N170 latency, peer-liking, and reciprocal friendships compared to the active control.
- No significant differences were found in parent-reported social skills or autism-related behaviors between groups.
- Parental expectancy positively correlated with perceived social skills improvements.
Conclusions:
- The specific activities within SDARI demonstrate efficacy in improving objective measures of social functioning in autistic youth.
- While direct intervention effects were observed on specific outcomes, parental perception plays a role in reported improvements.
- Findings support SDARI as a valuable intervention for enhancing social skills and peer relations in autistic adolescents.
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