Examination of a Parent-Assisted, Friendship-Building Program for Adolescents With XXXX .

@entity1 @entity71
OBJECTIVE: Youth with @entity71 experience significant impairment in peer functioning. Based on recommendations from the literature, the current pilot study examined the effectiveness of a parent-assisted, friendship-building program at establishing mutual friendships and improving peer relationships in adolescents with @entity71 . METHOD: @entity1 included 20 adolescents with @entity71 (ages 11-16 years) and their parent(s). Families completed the Program for the Evaluation and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS). Measures of friendship quality, social knowledge, social self-efficacy, get-togethers, and peer conflict were completed at baseline and post-treatment. At post-treatment, @entity1 also reported on the initiation of a new friendship. RESULTS: Baseline to post-treatment differences were examined using paired-samples t tests. The majority of @entity1 reported the initiation of a new friendship at post-treatment. Adolescents also demonstrated significantly improved social knowledge and increased get-togethers. Effect sizes were large. CONCLUSION: Following participation in PEERS, adolescents improved in several peer functioning domains and many initiated new friendships.
