Fostering social connectedness among adolescents and adults with autism: A qualitative analysis

Olivia Tomfohrde; Rebekah L. Hudock; Kalli B. Kremer; Nusroon Fatiha; Lindsey Weiler

doi:10.1002/pits.22759

Fostering social connectedness among adolescents and adults with autism: A qualitative analysis

Olivia Tomfohrde, Rebekah L. Hudock, Kalli B. Kremer, Nusroon Fatiha, Lindsey Weiler

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States. Common characteristics of ASD are marked deficits in communication and social connectedness. As autistic children approach adolescence, there is a lack of interventions available to them. Mentoring can provide adolescents with a relationship that facilitates social connectedness with another person who has a shared life experience, filling a gap in services. The Autism Mentorship Program (AMP) was designed to provide autistic adolescents a meaningful relationship with an autistic young adult. Via participation in focus groups, mentees (n = 5), mentors (n = 6), and parents of mentees (n = 6) shared their experience of participating in an afterschool, youth mentoring intervention. Themes were developed from an open coding procedure. Results showed that AMP was associated with helping mentees find social connection within their mentoring relationship and among the group of mentees. Mentors also reported mutual benefits in social connectedness. Perceived benefits of the program, including improved academic performance, and suggestions for future programming are reported. AMP appears to be a promising program that provides social benefits for adolescents with ASD who may have few options for this type of support.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	23-39
Number of pages	17
Journal	Psychology in the Schools
Volume	60
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22759
State	Published - Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank each of our participants and valued community partners who made this study possible. This study was generously supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at University of Minnesota, the Institute for Translational Research in Children's Mental Health at the University of Minnesota, and the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. These funding sources were not involved in study design, the collection, analysis or interpretation of data, the writing of this manuscript, or the decision to submit the article for publication. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent their official views.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Psychology in the Schools published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Keywords

ASD
autism spectrum disorder
mentoring
school-based program
social connectedness

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1002/pits.22759

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abstract = "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States. Common characteristics of ASD are marked deficits in communication and social connectedness. As autistic children approach adolescence, there is a lack of interventions available to them. Mentoring can provide adolescents with a relationship that facilitates social connectedness with another person who has a shared life experience, filling a gap in services. The Autism Mentorship Program (AMP) was designed to provide autistic adolescents a meaningful relationship with an autistic young adult. Via participation in focus groups, mentees (n = 5), mentors (n = 6), and parents of mentees (n = 6) shared their experience of participating in an afterschool, youth mentoring intervention. Themes were developed from an open coding procedure. Results showed that AMP was associated with helping mentees find social connection within their mentoring relationship and among the group of mentees. Mentors also reported mutual benefits in social connectedness. Perceived benefits of the program, including improved academic performance, and suggestions for future programming are reported. AMP appears to be a promising program that provides social benefits for adolescents with ASD who may have few options for this type of support.",

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note = "Funding Information: We thank each of our participants and valued community partners who made this study possible. This study was generously supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at University of Minnesota, the Institute for Translational Research in Children's Mental Health at the University of Minnesota, and the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. These funding sources were not involved in study design, the collection, analysis or interpretation of data, the writing of this manuscript, or the decision to submit the article for publication. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent their official views. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Psychology in the Schools published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.",

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Fostering social connectedness among adolescents and adults with autism: A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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