Page 36 - HA Convention 2016 [Abstracts (Day 1)]

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2016 Masterclasses

M6.1 Autistic Spectrum of Diseases 14:30 Room 423 & 424

The Effectiveness of Social Skills Training on Heterosexual Relationship in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum
Disorder
Lau JSY, Lai MLW
Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

Tuesday, 3 May Introduction

The impairment in social awareness and reciprocal interaction, necessary for learning and understanding of appropriate
sexual interaction, is profound in people with autism leading to errors in social judgement. In Hong Kong, limited training
about heterosexual relationship has been provided to adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of social skills training on heterosexual relationship for adolescents with ASD.

Methodology

A prospective qualitative study was carried out with 12 ASD adolescents recruited from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric
Day Centre of Queen Mary Hospital. The treatment consisted of eight two-hour sessions training, with a pre-group briefing
for parents. The topics included: (1) puberty; (2) relationship; (3) related to others; (4) intimacy; (5) sexual transmitted diseases
(STD) and contraception; (6) like and love; (7) decision making; and (8) sexual orientation and sexual perversion. Pre-test and
post-test were provided to assess adolescents’ knowledge level, self-confidence in heterosexual relationship and parents’
perception on child’s social misbehaviour.

Results

Data from March 2015 to May 2015 were collected. Descriptive method was employed for analysis. The mean score of
adolescents’ sexual health knowledge level increased from 6.8 to 9.7 (maximum score 10). The mean score of self-evaluated
confidence level on social skills increased from 2.9 to 3.7 (maximum score 5). The mean score of parents’ perception on
child’s misbehaviour decreased from 6.4 to 3.4.

Conclusion

Adolescents showed more understanding over sexual health and more confident when handling a heterosexual relationship.
They were more willing to share and discuss about sex topics with parents. Parents observed improvement in adolescents’
general hygiene and appearance, and skills on handling heterosexual relationship. It appeared to be a promising and cost-
effective training for adolescents with ASD in local setting.

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