Effectiveness of Social Skills Training Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Saudi Medical Journal
Alahmari, F. S., Alhabbad, A. A., et al. (2025).
Saudi Medical Journal, 46(3), 226-237.
<div>This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the effect of social skills therapies for children on the autism spectrum. </div>
No funding received
2013 to September 2023
<div>Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies with comparison groups</div>
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<div>A meta-analysis of four studies demonstrated that social skills therapy had a positive, small to moderate, but statistically insignificant effect on social responsiveness scale scores in children on the autism spectrum. However, within individual studies, improvements were generally seen in various social skills (e.g., social communication, reciprocity, joint attention). </div>
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<div>Limitations to this review include limited available evidence, heterogeneity in measures used within included studies, and lack of long-term follow-up data. Additional research is indicated.</div>
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