Intervention Program to Promote Strength Awareness and Self-esteem in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Background: In recent years, an increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been observed in adolescent psychiatric wards. Individuals with ASD have poor social skills and are more likely to have difficulty with interpersonal relations. In addition to such difficulty, inpatients with ASD may be under the influence of adverse environments such as a lack of understanding and abuse, which may result in low self-esteem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a pilot study to improve self-esteem through metacognition and strength awareness promotion in adolescents with ASD. Methods: A five-session intervention program (45 to 60 minutes each) was carried out in 12 adolescents (12 to 18 years old) with ASD. The program was performed for each adolescent separately, as individuals with ASD often exhibit uneasiness when finding themselves in an environment where a group of others is present. Metacognition, self-affirmation, and self-esteem scales were administered before and after the program, and the results were compared. Results: Metacognition and self-esteem were increased after the program, both had a large effect size. There were no significant differences in some of the self-affirmation subscales, but the effect size was medium to large. Conclusion: The program activated metacognition, promoted strength awareness, and increased selfesteem in adolescents with ASD