The Effect Of Video Modeling And Social Skill Instructionon On The Social Skills Of Adolescents With High Functioning Autism And

Research conducted on video modeling has shown that these strategies are most effective when they include specific strategies to address conversation skills. Social skills research has also shown that teaching social skills to adolescents in group settings may be more effective than presenting them on an individual basis. Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome (AS) and High functioning Autism (HFA) participated in a12-week Social Skills Training (SST) program. In addition to pre-and post-study measures, conversation skills data were collected before and after the application of the independent variable (video modeling). Follow-up interviews were also conducted with participants, secondary participants, and parents of the primary participants. After a two-week baseline phase, participants attended weekly social skills training and received the treatment of video modeling with videos found on YouTube. This established pre-existing social and conversation skills and enabled the measurement of changes over the course of the 12 week program. After post intervention data were collected, additional data were collected with participants and secondary participants, neuro-typical peers, as a measure of treatment generalization. This study proposed that presenting social skills videos found on YouTube, would be effective in increasing levels of initiation, responses and conversation skills, thereby increasing communication effectiveness and reducing social rejection by peers. Although some gains in conversational skill levels were observed by most participants in the study significant increases in conversation skill levels were not observed in both ASD only group settings or of the ASD neuro-typical mixed group setting

Relações entre características do autismo, variáveis emocionais e o processamento olfativo na população geral

Although altered sensory processing is recognized as a key-feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (henceforth “autism”), olfactory functioning is still poorly understood in this condition. Considering the role of olfaction in human social communication and well-being, it is crucial to investigate which variables are related to the often-observed inconsistent results concerning olfactory functioning in autism. Study of the expression of autism traits and other autism-related variables in the general population may be useful to understand which specific dimensions are related to the often-observed symptoms, alterations, and heterogeneity in the autism spectrum, including in the olfactory domain. The present work sought to contribute to the multidimensional assessment of anxiety and autism traits in adults of the general population, as well as to the understanding of the multivariate relationships between autism characteristics, olfactory processing, anxiety, and alexithymia. Study 1 and Study 2 aimed to extend the available evidence about the psychometric properties of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Results supported the adequacy of both instruments to measure anxiety and autism traits, respectively, in a multidimensional perspective. Consistent with the literature, Study 1 found support for a four-factor, as well as a two-factor structure within the state and traits forms of the STICSA. Moreover, measurement invariance across sex groups, and good nomological validity were also supported for the STICSA. Results also suggested that the cognitive and somatic dimensions of trait anxiety, as measured by the STICSA, are differently related with the subjective and psychophysiological responses in distinct emotional contexts. Results of Study 2 further supported a three-factor structure of the AQ, consistent with previous studies, as well as the role of alexithymia, particularly difficulties in identifying feelings, as a mediator of the relationship between autism traits and trait anxiety. Study 3 analyzed the impact of the social skills and attention to detail dimensions of autism traits, and cognitive/somatic trait anxiety, on the olfactory abilities of the general population. Results emphasized the roles of sex, attention to detail and trait-somatic anxiety as significant predictors of odor discrimination abilities. Finally, Study 4 provided an integrative review about olfactory processing in autism and how advancing research in this area may benefit the knowledge and practice regarding social cognition and behavior in autism. The findings of this research highlight the need to explore the distinct dimensions of autism-related variables to better understand their complex relationships and impact in the functioning of the spectrum, including in olfactory functioning.Embora alterações no processamento sensorial sejam uma característica-chave da Perturbação do Espetro do Autismo (daqui em diante “autismo”), o funcionamento olfativo ainda é pouco compreendido nesta condição. Considerando o papel do olfato na comunicação, interação social e bem-estar, é crucial investigar que variáveis estão relacionadas com os resultados inconsistentes frequentemente observados no âmbito do processamento olfativo no autismo. Estudar a expressão de traços de autismo na população geral, bem como a expressão multidimensional de outras variáveis relacionadas, pode ser útil para compreender que dimensões estão relacionadas com os sintomas, alterações e heterogeneidade frequentemente observados no autismo, incluindo no domínio olfativo. O presente trabalho pretendeu contribuir para a avaliação multidimensional da ansiedade e de traços de autismo em adultos da população geral, bem como para uma melhor compreensão da relação multivariada entre as características do autismo, processamento olfativo, ansiedade e alexitimia. O Estudo 1 e o Estudo 2 tiveram como objetivo estender a evidência disponível sobre as propriedades psicométricas do State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) e do Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Os resultados suportaram a adequação de ambos os instrumentos para medir ansiedade e traços de autismo, respetivamente, numa perspetiva multidimensional. Em linha com a literatura, o Estudo 1 providenciou suporte para uma estrutura de quatro fatores, bem como para uma estrutura de dois fatores dentro das dimensões de ansiedade traço e estado do STICSA. Observou-se ainda invariância fatorial considerando a variável sexo, assim como boa validade nomológica. Os resultados também sugeriram que as dimensões cognitivas e somáticas da ansiedade traço, medidas pelo STICSA, estão relacionadas de forma distinta com as respostas subjetiva e psicofisiológica em diferentes contextos emocionais. Os resultados do Estudo 2, de modo consistente com estudos anteriores, suportaram uma estrutura de três fatores do AQ, bem como o papel da alexitimia, particularmente das dificuldades em identificar sentimentos e emoções, como mediadora da relação entre traços de autismo e ansiedade traço. O Estudo 3 analisou o impacto das dimensões de traços de autismo relacionadas com as capacidades sociais e atenção para os detalhes, e da ansiedade traço cognitiva/somática, nas capacidades olfativas da população geral. Os resultados evidenciaram o papel das variáveis sexo, atenção para os detalhes e ansiedade traço somática como preditores significativos da capacidade de discriminação olfativa. Por fim, o Estudo 4 apresentou uma revisão integrativa sobre o processamento olfativo no autismo, e como o avanço da investigação nesta área pode beneficiar o conhecimento e a prática no âmbito da cognição e comportamento social. Os resultados desta investigação destacam a importância de explorar as diferentes dimensões das variáveis relacionadas com o autismo para melhor compreender a complexidade das suas relações e impacto no funcionamento do espetro, incluindo no que diz respeito ao funcionamento olfativo.Programa Doutoral em Psicologi

Mediating Role of Joyful Disposition in the Relationship Between Caregivers of Children With Autism and Experiential Avoidance and Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder can experience excessive stressors from their children’s autistic symptoms, self-injurious behaviors, and/or morbidity events. This population of caregivers often suffers from coping and psychological issues such as experiential avoidance and unwanted intrusive thoughts that can lead to decreased quality of life and lower trait joy well-being. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to determine the extent to which joyful disposition mediated the relationship between type of caregiver (caregivers of autistic children and caregivers of neurotypical children) and experiential avoidance and unwanted intrusive thoughts. The joyful life approach served as the theoretical foundation. The sample, recruited through SurveyMonkey, had sixty-six (74.2%) caregivers of boys and twenty-three (25.8%) caregivers with girls. Results from multiple regression analyses did not show significant relationships between type of caregiver and experiential avoidance, and type of caregiver and unwanted intrusive thoughts. Joyful disposition was not a mediator between type of caregiver and experiential avoidance, or type of caregiver and unwanted intrusive thoughts. Positive social change may occur through the development of educational programs and resources for caregivers focused on positive psychology to mitigate caregiver stress. Social change may also occur at the state level through outreach programs such as educational workshops and in-home visits from organizational advocates for caregivers and their children

Social gaming: A systematic review

Digital games often constitute a shared activity where people can spend time together, communicate and socialize. Several commercial titles place social interaction at the center of their design. Prior works have investigated the social outcomes of gaming, and factors that impact the experience. Yet, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how social gaming has been approached and explored before. In this work, we present a systematic review covering 263 publications, gathered in February 2021, that study gaming experiences involving more than one person, with a focus on the social element that emerges among partakers (players and/or spectators). We contribute with a systematized understanding of (1) how the topic is being defined and approached, (2) what facets (mainly in terms of outcomes and determinants of the experience) are being acknowledged and (3) the methodologies leveraged to examine these. Our analysis, based on mixed deductive and inductive coding, reveals relevant gaps and tendencies, including (1) the emphasis in novel technologies and unconventional games, (2) the apparent negligence of player diversity, and (3) lower ecological validity associated with totally mediated evaluations and a lack of established constructs to assess social outcomes

Book of abstracts and proceedings. 44th international conference of the stress, trauma, anxiety, and resilience society (STAR)

Stress and anxiety situations are increasing problems in recent years. In fact, anxiety disorders take first place in the ranking of global psychopathology, followed by depression. Many of these situations are traumatic, and it is essential to develop resilience to make people and communities more resilient to prevent these situations. Several factors have contributed to this, including the high demand in the professional activity, the breakneck pace people have to live and make decisions, the high competitiveness, the lack of social support, the lack of control in many situations, the uncertainty and the insecurity. Recently, it has also highlighted the economic crisis and unemployment, the healthy problems, namely because of the Covid pandemic, and the war in ukraine, as major factors for stress, anxiety and trauma that many people have. It is increasingly important that people know how to handle these situations, through their coping strategies, and resilience skills.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Students' empathy and classroom climate as predictors of attitudes towards immigrants: a case study in three EU countries

The development of positive attitudes towards immigrants among students can be addressed at the individual level through their empathic abilities and at the school or classroom level, where the classroom climate plays an important role.In the present study, we have taken a closer look into the relationship between attitudes towards immigrants, two components of empathy (perspective taking, empathic concern), quality of student-teacher relations (both positiveand negative) and inclusive classroom climate(presented as perceived intercultural sensitivity of teachers) in a sample of 814 8th-grade students in three EU countries (Slovenia, Croatia, and Sweden). The findings showonlyempathy (especially perspective taking) was associated with better attitudes towards immigrantsin all three countries. Additionally, in two out of three countries, the importance of the relationship with teachers and inclusiveclassroomclimate was important as well. The results are discussed in the light of guidelines for school practice

EEG coherence between the verbal-analytical region (T3) and the motor-planning region (Fz) increases under stress in explicit motor learners but not implicit motor learners

This journal supplement contains abstracts of NASPSPA 2010Free Communications - Verbal and Poster: Motor Learning and Controlpublished_or_final_versionThe Annual Conference of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA 2010), Tucson, AZ., 10-12 June 2010. In Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2010, v. 32 suppl., p. S13