Internet-Delivered Psychoeducation (SCOPE) for Transition-Aged Autistic Youth

Study Overview

The SCOPE program is an 8-week online psychoeducation intervention designed for autistic youth. This study tested its effectiveness through a randomized controlled trial.

Goals of the Study

The main goal was to see if SCOPE could help participants better understand autism and improve their quality of life (QoL).

How SCOPE Works

SCOPE was developed with input from both clinicians and autistic young adults. It includes:

8 modules about autism
Text descriptions of each topic
Four videos featuring characters sharing their experiences
A list of typical traits related to each topic
Self-reflection questions with multiple-choice answers and optional comments

Study Design

Participants were divided into three groups:

SCOPE program
Active control (web-based self-study)
Treatment as usual (TAU)

We measured autism knowledge, acceptance of diagnosis, QoL, and mental health symptoms at the start, after the program, and three months later.

Results

A total of 141 participants completed the study. Key findings include:

SCOPE participants showed significant improvements in autism knowledge compared to TAU, with lasting benefits at the 3-month follow-up.
Participants in the self-study also improved but did not maintain their knowledge gains over time.
SCOPE participants reported better QoL at both post-intervention and follow-up assessments.
There were no significant changes in anxiety or depression symptoms.

Conclusion

SCOPE demonstrates that online interventions can effectively reach autistic youth, especially those who may not access traditional services. This approach can help sustain knowledge gained through psychoeducation.

Future Research

Further studies should explore the personal experiences of participants in online psychoeducation programs.

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