Adaptation and Feasibility of the Mandarin Version of PEERS® for Autistic Adolescents

Feasibility and cross-cultural validation of an adapted social skills group training programme (KONTAKT™ CHILD) for Chinese autistic children: a wait-list RCT protocol

“…Additonally, they will offer ongoing coaching and encouragement to parents. This enhanced parent support directly addresses a need identified in previous research [33] - Chinese parents expressed a desire for additional coaching skills education to facilitate their autistic children’s participation in SSGTs.…”

“…During this three-minute waiting period, participants and the adult confederate can talk to each other. Secondary outcomes include autistic characteristics (Social Responsiveness Scale-2 [SRS-2] [60]), generalised social skills (Snack Time Assessment of Relationships and Social Skills [STARSS] [59, 61]), adaptive functioning (Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System-II [62, 63]), self-esteem and self-concept (Self-concept Scale Draw-A-Person [SCS-DAP] [64], Child Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [CRSES] [65]), cognitive development and psychosocial well-being (Koppitz Draw-A-Person Test [66, 67], Child Outcome Rating Scale [68, 69]), perceived school support school level [33], and parental reflective functioning [70]. Feasibility outcomes include acceptability, appropriateness, and negative effects assessed via quantitative data (fidelity checklists, recruitment rates, attendance rates, homework completion rates, Group Session Rating Scale [71], Theoretical Framework of Acceptability Questionnaire [72], and Negative Effects Questionnaire [73]) and qualitative data from focus groups held post-intervention (ITG: post-training [T3] and follow-up [T5]; DTG: post-training [T5]).…”

“…To our knowledge, while a standardised SSGT programme PEERS ® has been tailored for use with Chinese autistic adolescents [33], there is no culturally standardised SSGT programme specifically tailored toward the needs of autistic children years in the Chinese Mainland. With its diverse, individualised, and naturalistic session design [26], it is anticipated that KONTAKT TM will effectively support the social functioning and well-being of Chinese autistic children, provided the context of Chinese culture and its associated social norms are incorporated [34].…”