Development and Initial Outcomes of a Mentoring Program Designed to Support Autistic Adolescents and Adults

IF 1.3 Q3 EDUCATION, SPECIAL

Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Pub Date : 2024-01-06 DOI:10.1007/s41252-023-00388-5

Rebekah L. Hudock, Kalli B. Kremer, Naomi Kaplan, Emily Goldberg, Jeannette Dempsey Austin, Lila Khan, Lindsey M. Weiler

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Autistic individuals frequently experience mental health concerns, and there are few strengths-based programs available within community settings. This study examined the initial outcomes of the Autism Mentorship Program (AMP), a mentoring program for autistic youth and adults.

Methods

Fourteen autistic youth and 14 autistic adults were paired in one-to-one mentoring relationships, and they met weekly for mentoring sessions. Seventeen parents of autistic youth also participated in this study. A mixed methods design was used to assess social and emotional outcomes and acceptability of AMP. Data were collected via online surveys and standardized rating scales before AMP, following eight weeks of programming, and following AMP. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and Hedge’s g.

Results

Results indicated strong uptake and satisfaction with the program and mentoring relationships. Mentee outcomes included increased pride in their autistic identities (g = .28) and improvements in self-awareness, social connectedness, and communication skills. Parents of mentees reported increases in quality of life (g = .49), life satisfaction (g = .60), and pride in autistic identity (g = .80) for their child. Mentors reported improvements in quality of life (g = .58), internalizing (g = − .12) and externalizing symptoms (g = -.06), leadership, communication skills, social connectedness, and social skills (g = .19).

Conclusions

Initial results indicate that AMP has the potential to benefit autistic mentors and mentees. Additional research is needed regarding mentoring for autistic individuals.

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旨在支持自闭症青少年和成人的指导计划的发展和初步成果

目的自闭症患者经常经历心理健康问题，在社区环境中很少有基于优势的项目。这项研究检查了自闭症指导计划（AMP）的初步结果，这是一个针对自闭症青少年和成年人的指导计划。方法对14名青少年自闭症患者和14名成人自闭症患者进行一对一辅导，每周进行一次辅导。17位自闭症青少年的父母也参与了这项研究。使用混合方法设计来评估AMP的社会和情感结果以及可接受性。数据通过在线调查和标准化评分量表收集，在AMP之前，在8周的计划之后，以及AMP之后。数据使用描述性方法和Hedge的g.结果进行分析。结果表明对计划和师徒关系的强烈吸收和满意度。学员的结果包括对自己自闭症身份的自豪感增加（g = .28），自我意识、社会联系和沟通技巧的改善。学员的父母报告说，他们孩子的生活质量（g = 0.49）、生活满意度（g = 0.60）和对自闭症身份的自豪感（g = 0.80）都有所提高。导师报告了生活质量（g = 0.58）、内化症状（g = - 0.12）和外化症状（g = - 0.06）、领导能力、沟通技巧、社会联系和社会技能（g = 0.19）的改善。结论初步结果表明，AMP有可能使自闭症导师和学员受益。关于自闭症患者的辅导还需要进一步的研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Social Sciences-Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

CiteScore

2.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders publishes high-quality research in the broad area of neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan. Study participants may include individuals with:Intellectual and developmental disabilitiesGlobal developmental delayCommunication disordersLanguage disordersSpeech sound disordersChildhood-onset fluency disorders (e.g., stuttering)Social (e.g., pragmatic) communication disordersUnspecified communication disordersAutism spectrum disorder (ASD)Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specified and unspecifiedSpecific learning disordersMotor disordersDevelopmental coordination disordersStereotypic movement disorderTic disorders, specified and unspecifiedOther neurodevelopmental disorders, specified and unspecifiedPapers may also include studies of participants with neurodegenerative disorders that lead to a decline in intellectual functioning, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal degeneration, Huntington’s disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy. The journal includes empirical, theoretical and review papers on a large variety of issues, populations, and domains, including but not limited to: diagnosis; incidence and prevalence; and educational, pharmacological, behavioral and cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and psychosocial interventions across the life span. Animal models of basic research that inform the understanding and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders are also welcomed. The journal is multidisciplinary and multi-theoretical, and encourages research from multiple specialties in the social sciences using quantitative and mixed-method research methodologies.