A Randomized Controlled Trial of the K orean Version of the PEERS ® Parent‐Assisted Social Skills Training Program for Teens With ASD

Impaired social functioning is a hallmark feature of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ), often requiring treatment throughout the life span. PEERS ® ( P rogram for the E ducation and E nrichment of R elational S kills) is a parent‐assisted social skills training for teens with ASD . Although PEERS ® has an established evidence base in improving the social skills of adolescents and young adults with ASD in N orth A merica, the efficacy of this treatment has yet to be established in cross‐cultural validation trials. The objective of this study is to examine the feasibility and treatment efficacy of a K orean version of PEERS ® for enhancing social skills through a randomized controlled trial ( RCT ).The E nglish version of the PEERS ® T reatment M anual ( L augeson & F rankel, 2010) was translated into K orean and reviewed by 21 child mental health professionals. Items identified as culturally sensitive were surveyed by 447 middle school students, and material was modified accordingly. Participants included 47 teens between 12 and 18 years of age with a diagnosis of ASD and a verbal intelligence quotient ( IQ ) ≥ 65. Eligible teens were randomly assigned to a treatment group ( TG ) or delayed treatment control group ( CG ). Primary outcome measures included questionnaires and direct observations quantifying social ability and problems directly related to ASD . Secondary outcome measures included scales for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and other behavioral problems. Rating scales for parental depressive symptoms and anxiety were examined to detect changes in parental psychosocial functioning throughout the PEERS ® treatment. Independent samples t ‐tests revealed no significant differences at baseline across the TG and CG conditions with regard to age (14.04 ± 1.64 and 13.54 ± 1.50 years), IQ (99.39 ± 18.09 & 100.67 ± 16.97), parental education, socioeconomic status, or ASD symptoms ( p