The Effect of Korean Version of PEERS Social Skills Training for Young Adults (PEERS-YA-K) With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The ADOS is a play-based, semistructured, standardized assessment of communication, social interaction, and play (i.e. imaginative use of materials) for individuals with a suspected diagnosis of autism or ASD. The ADOS consists of four modules, each of which can be selected on the basis of the participant's expressive language skills and hronological age. Module 4 of the ADOS is designed for adolescents and adults with fluent speech, and includes 10 essential and 5 optional activities. The scores from each activity are coded as well as those for five subdomains: language and communication, reciprocal social interaction, imagination, stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests, and other abnormal behaviors.

minimum 0, maximum 18, higherscores mean a worse outcome.

The TYASSK is a 22-item criterion-referenced test developed for this study to assess the teen's knowledge about the specific social skills taught during the intervention. Two items were derived from key elements of each of the 11 didactic lessons. Teens were presented with sentence stems and asked to choose the best option from two possible answers. Scores range from 0 to 22, with higher scores reflecting greater knowledge of teen social skills.

The SSRS consists of 38-items and took approximately 10 min to complete. Questionnaires were completed independently by the teen's parent and teacher. For example, items included ''Starts conversations rather than waiting for someone to talk first.'' The items were rated as either ''Never,'' ''Sometimes,'' or ''Very Often.'' The Social Skills and Problem Behaviors scales were derived from factor analysis.

minimum 50 and maximum 163, and higherscores mean a better outcome

The SRS is a 65-item questionnaire that assesses the various dimensions of interpersonal behavior, communication, and repetitive/stereotypic behavior that are characteristics of ASD.

minimum 92, maximum 200, higherscores mean a worse outcome

The K-VABS is an interviewed survey and measures adaptive behaviors of individuals such as personal and social skills, used for everyday living from birth to age 90. These are based on the reports of primary caregivers and teachers. The K-VABS contains 5 domains each with 2-3 subdomains. The main domains are: Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialization, Motor Skills, and Maladaptive Behavior (optional). Behaviors are rated on a 0 (a skill that is not used by the individual) - 2 (a skill used most of the time) rating scale. The current study used only the communication, daily living skills, and socialization domains.

minimum 25, maximum 108, higherscores mean a better outcome.

The BDI consists of 21 items measuring the severity of subjective symptoms of depression, with emotional, cognitive, motivational, and physiological symptom profiles for adults. Each question has four possible answer choices, scored from 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (the most severe symptoms).

minimum 1, maximum 45, higherscores mean a worse outcome