Autism Spectrum Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorders, Peer-Mediated Intervention, Children
Brief summary
The goal of this interventional study was to examine the effectiveness and mechanism of online peer companion intervention (OPCI) on the social abilities and mental health of ASD children. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Whether OPCI is effective on the social abilities and mental health of ASD children; 2. What impact does OPCI have on the social abilities and mental health of ordinary children; 3. What impact does OPCI have on the mental health of both children's parents; 4. What are the mechanisms of OPCI on ASD children.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALOnline Peer Companion Intervention
Ordinary children would be paired with ASD children before the interventions. Dyads in the OPCI would have a total of 12 sessions within two months, each lasting 30-60 minutes. The longest interval between two sessions couldn't exceed two weeks. Researchers would recommend a series of companion themes for children to choose from (e.g., daily sharing and drawing). Ordinary children and ASD children need to discuss activities that are of mutual interest before each session. A researcher assistant would be online to ensure the normal development of the interventions and be responsible for video recording of the exchanges at the beginning of each session. Except for extreme circumstances, he or she would turn off the video and sound throughout the process and withdraw soon. During the interventions, parents would play a supporting role when children express needs without over-involvement.
BEHAVIORALWait-List
Dyads in the WLG would only participate in preliminary training and measurement during the implementation of the intervention. After completing the post-test, this study will implement the same online peer companionship intervention.
Sponsors
Peking University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
Online Peer Companion Intervention group (OPCI) and Wait-List Group (WLG)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 15 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
of ASD Children: * 7-15 years old and diagnosed as mild ASD; * Basic ability to speak independently and fluently communicate with peers; * Could use mobile phones, tablets, computers, or other electronic devices for this online intervention.
Exclusion criteria
of ASD Children: * Diagnosed as moderate or severe ASD; * Unable or unwilling to communicate with peers independently * No phones or other alternative electronic devices for the intervention Inclusion Criteria of Ordinary Children: * 9-18 years old with normal development, no diagnosis of ASD, learning disabilities, ADHD, and other mental disorders; * Lively and outgoing, able to assume the role of topic organizer in communication with peers; * Could use mobile phones, tablets, computers, or other electronic devices for this online intervention.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Social Behavior of ASD Children | Pre-test, two process measurements (after 6th and 9th session, respectively), post-test, and follow-up (1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the intervention | We examined the effectiveness of OPCI on the social behavior of ASD participants through parent-report Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). |
| Mental Health of ASD Children | Pre-test, two process measurements (after 6th and 9th session, respectively), post-test, and follow-up (1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the intervention | We examined the effectiveness of OPCI on the mental health of ASD participants through the parent-report 25-item Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health of Ordinary Children | Pre-test, two process measurements (after 6th and 9th session, respectively), post-test, and follow-up (1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the intervention) or only measure at pre-test, post-test and follow-up | We examined the effectiveness of OPCI on the mental health of ordinary children participants through some self-report and parent-report scales, including the 25-item Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), and so on. |
| Social Ability of Ordinary Children | Pre-test, two process measurements (after 6th and 9th session, respectively), post-test, and follow-up (1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the intervention | We explored the effectiveness of OPCI on the social ability of ordinary children participants through self-report and parent-report Social Skills Rating Systems (SSRS) |
| Mental Health of Parents | Pre-test, two process measurements (after 6th and 9th session, respectively), post-test, and follow-up (1, 2, 3 and 6 months after the intervention) or only measure at pre-test, post-test and follow-up. | We examined the effectiveness of OPCI on the mental health of both children's parents through some self-report scales, including the General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), and so on. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Process Screen Recording Coding | each session | We coded the screen recording of interventions to explore the effectiveness and influencing factors of OPCI. Videos for each dyad will be conducted by a trained undergraduate student. This work will be carried out under the guidance and supervision of a professional clinical psychologist. |
Countries
China
Contacts
Primary ContactYinyin Zang, PhD
Outcome results
None listed