Self-perception might matter more than observable social skills for autistic teens’ well-being
A new study reveals that helping autistic teenagers manage social anxiety and build inner confidence improves their quality of life far more than simply teaching them observable social skills.
The study published in Autism Research suggests that self-perception might be more important than observable social skills for the well-being of autistic teenagers. The research, conducted by occupational therapy researchers Hui-Jen Shyu, Mei-Hui Tseng, and Yu-Wei Ryan Chen, indicates that autistic teenagers who feel socially capable and experience less social anxiety report a better quality of life, regardless of their performance in observable social skills.
This finding challenges traditional interventions that focus on teaching specific social behaviors, emphasizing the significance of addressing the emotional experiences of autistic youth. The study involved 117 autistic adolescents aged 10 to 16 in Taiwan, who completed self-report questionnaires to assess their overall quality of life, social functioning, social anxiety, and self-perceived social competence.
The results show that internal perceptions of social competence and emotional well-being have a more substantial impact on the quality of life of autistic teenagers than their external social behaviors.
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