A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Parent-Assisted Children’s Friendship Training to Improve Social Skills and Friendship Quality in Children with Autism in Malaysia

Sing Yee Ong, Samsilah Roslan, Nor Aniza Ahmad, Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Ayub, Chen Lee Ping, Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh and Seyedali Ahrari
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Sing Yee Ong: Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia
Samsilah Roslan: Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia
Nor Aniza Ahmad: Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia
Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Ayub: Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia
Chen Lee Ping: Department of Psychology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh: Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia
Seyedali Ahrari: Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Background : This study evaluates the effectiveness of parent-assisted children’s friendship training intervention for enhancing friendship quality and social skills among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We conducted a quasi-experimental study to investigate the effective outcomes of social skills and friendship quality in the pre-and post-parent-assisted CFT intervention phases; Methods : to conduct a 12-week field session, 30 children with their parents were selected. The Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales and the Quality of Play Questionnaire-Parent were used to assess the effectiveness of the parent-assisted children’s friendship training during pre-and post-intervention. A semi-structured interview with parents was conducted at the end of the session; Results : findings revealed that intervention improved the social skills of these children. Additionally, the friendship quality of children with ASD improved before and after the intervention, however, engagement remained unchanged. Parents also showed some sort of improvement after the session as they reported a heightened sense of fear and resistance, awareness, learning and adjustment, change is not easy, and identifying support; Conclusions : there was clear evidence that children with ASD benefitted from parent-assisted CFTs in terms of social skills and friendship quality. However, larger and controlled studies are required to draw firm conclusions about this kind of intervention.

Keywords: friendship skills; social skills; parent-assisted children’s friendship training; children with ASD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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