Research
The UCLA PEERS® Clinic is proud to share our exciting research initiatives! Below is a list of publications in pivotal journals of the evidence supporting the PEERS® programs.
For more information on these publications and ongoing research, please contact us at 310-26-PEERS or peersclinic@ucla.edu.
If you are interested in volunteering to be a Research Assistant, please click here for instructions on how to get involved.
Current Research Initiatives
Research Publications on PEERS®
PEERS® for Adolescents
- A preliminary randomized controlled study of the PEERS® program for Taiwanese autistic adolescents: The effectiveness on reducing school bullying and enhancing social function (Hsiao, et al., 2024)
- Efficacy of Community-Delivered PEERS® for Adolescents: Increases in Social Skills and Decreases in Social Anxiety and Loneliness (Parenteau et al., 2024)
- Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Italy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Social Skills Intervention for Autistic Adolescents (Fatta et al., 2024)
- Enhancing Social Outcomes in Autistic Youth: Assessing the Impact of PEERS® Booster Sessions (Fatta et al., 2024)
- Social Skills Training Using the Thai Version of UCLA PEERS® in Thai Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Sittanomai et al., 2024)
- Outcomes in PEERS® for Adolescents Across Neurodevelopmental Disorders: ADHD, Autism, and Their Co‐occurrence (Geannopoulos et al., 2024)
- Long-Term Follow-Up of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) with Adolescent Adoptees (Helder et al., 2024)
- Examining the feasibility and effectiveness of PEERS for adolescents via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic (Lee et al., 2023)
- Exploring Caregiver and Participant Experiences of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Youth with Acquired Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy (Gilmore et al., 2023)
- Vinaleysi og vanlíðan hjá börnum og unglingum: Rannsóknir á árangri af PEERS- námskeiðum í félagsfærni á Íslandi (Karlsdóttir et al., 2023)
- Adaptation and Feasibility of the Mandarin Version of PEERS® for Autistic Adolescents (Lao et al., 2023)
- Effectiveness of Adapted Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) in Adolescents with ASD (Saima & Amin, 2023)
- Lessons Learned from a Predominantly Latinx Autistic Population: Preliminary Effects of the PEERS Intervention on Neural and Perceived Educational Performance (Baker et al., 2023)
- Use of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) Intervention to Improve Social Skills and Peer Relationships among Adolescent Adoptees (Helder et al., 2022)
- Brief Report: A Pilot Study Examining the Effects of PEERS® for Adolescents Telehealth for Autistic Adolescents (Adler et al., 2022)
- Effects of Social Skills Training for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention via Hybrid and In-Person Delivery (Platos et al., 2022)
- Social skill training for children with autistic spectrum disorder on the uncertainty of the disease from mothers (Zu et al,. 2022)
- A randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of the Dutch version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) (Idris et al., 2022).
- Efficacy of PEERS® for Adolescents via Telehealth Delivery (Estabillo et al., 2022).
- Perceived and Observed Treatment Gains Following PEERS: A Preliminary Study with Latinx Adolescents with ASD (Veytsman et al., 2022)
- Improving Social Anxiety and Social Responsiveness in Autism Spectrum Disorder through PEERS® (Factor et al., 2022)
- Improving Social Knowledge and Skills among Adolescents with Autism: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of UCLA PEERS® for Adolescents (Zheng et al., 2021)
- Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for adolescents with an acquired brain injury: A randomized controlled trial (Gilmore et al., 2021)
- Social Skills Training Using the Thai Version of UCLA PEERS® in Thai Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Sittanomai et al., 2021).
- New Approaches to Social Skills Training: Blended Group Interventions for Girls with Social Communication Difficulties (Wolstencroft et al., 2021)
- Implementation of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills Social Skills Intervention in a University-Based Communication Sciences and Disorders Clinic (Garbarino et al., 2020).
- Research on effect of social PEERS training for mother and children with autism spectrum disorder in Shanghai (publication written in Chinese) (Zu et al., 2020)
- Development and preliminary testing of the Dutch version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) (Idris et al., 2020)
- An Israeli RCT of PEERS®: Intervention Effectiveness and the Predictive Value of Parental Sensitivity (Rabin et al., 2020)
- The ACCEPT-study: design of an RCT with an active treatment control condition to study the effectiveness of the Dutch version of PEERS® for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (van Pelt et al., 2020)
- Brief Report: Reductions in Parenting Stress in the Context of PEERS—A Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Corona et al., 2019)
- Examining the Treatment Efficacy of PEERS in Japan: Improving Social Skills Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Yamada et al., 2019)
- Multicentre, Randomised Waitlist Control Trial Investigating a Parent-Assisted Social Skills Group Programme for Adolescents with Brain Injuries: Protocol for the Friends Project (Gilmore et al., 2019)
- Learning How to Make Friends for Chinese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Hong Kong Chinese Version of the PEERS® Intervention (Shum, et al., 2019)
- Brief Report: Effectiveness of an Accelerated Version of the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents (Matthews et al., 2019)
- Exploring the Effectiveness of a Peer-Mediated Model of the PEERS Curriculum: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial (Matthews et. al., 2018)
- The Effects of a Modified PEERS Ciriculum on Accurate and Novel Responding of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Radley et. al., 2018)
- Age as a Moderator of Social Skills Intervention Response Among Korean Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Hong et al., 2018)
- The Dutch Translation of the PEERS Training (Jagersma et al., 2018)
- A Randomized Controlled Trial evaluating the Hebrew Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention: Behavioral and Questionnaire-Based Outcomes (Rabin et al., 2018)
- Research progress on the effect of program for the education and enrichment of relational skills on social skill improvement among adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Song & Du, 2018)
- A Pilot Study Examining the Effectiveness of the PEERS Program on Social Skills and Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Hill et al., 2017)
- Changes in Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents with ASD Completing the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention (Schiltz et al., 2017)
- Brief Report: Does Gender Matter in Intervention for ASD? Examining the Impact of the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention on Social Behavior Among Females with ASD (McVey, et al., 2017)
- Parents Perceive Improvements in Socio-emotional Functioning in Adolescents with ASD Following Social Skills Treatment (Lordo et al., 2016)
- Brief Report: Assessment of Intervention Effects on In Vivo Peer Interactions in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Dolan et al., 2016)
- Examining the Efficacy of an Adapted Version of the UCLA PEERS® Program with Canadian Adolescents (Marchica & D'Amico, 2016)
- Examination of a Parent-Assisted, Friendship-Building Program for Adolescents With ADHD (Gardner et al., 2015)
- Parent and Family Outcomes of PEERS- A Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Karst et al., 2014)
- Using a CBT Approach to Teach Social Skills to Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Social Challenges The PEERS Method (Laugeson & Park, 2014)
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Korean Version of the PEERS Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training Program for Teens With ASD (Yoo et al., 2014)
- Long-Term Treatment Outcomes for Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders- The UCLA PEERS Program (Mandelberg et al., 2013)
- Predicting treatment success in social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders- The UCLA Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (Chang et al., 2013)
- A Replication and Extension of the PEERS Intervention- Examining Effects on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Schohl et al., 2013)
- Measuring the Plasticity of Social Approach- A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of the PEERS Intervention on EEG Asymmetry in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Van Hecke et al., 2013)
- Evidence-Based Social Skills Training for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders- The UCLA PEERS Program (Laugeson et al., 2012)
- Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training to Improve Friendships in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Laugeson et al., 2009)
School-Based PEERS® for Adolescents
- PEERS® for School-Based Professionals via Zoom as a Pre-Employment Transition Service
- The ABC’s of Teaching Social Skills to Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Classroom- The UCLA PEERS Program (Laugeson et al., 2014)
- The UCLA PEERS School-Based Program: Treatment Outcomes for Improving Social Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Those with Cognitive Deficits (Wyman, J. & Claro, A. J., 2019)
- Effects of Social Skills Training for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention via Hybrid and In-Person Delivery (Płatos et al., 2022)
- Effects of an Abbreviated and Adapted PEERS® Curriculum as Part of a College Transition Program for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum (Howorth et al., 2022).
- Improving Social Anxiety and Social Responsiveness in Autism Spectrum Disorder through PEERS® (Factor et al., 2022).
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Korean Version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for Young Adults (PEERS®-YA-K) With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study (Oh et al., 2021)
- Effectiveness, durability, and clinical correlates of the PEERS social skills intervention in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: the first evidence outside North America (Chien et al., 2021)
- A Pilot Study of a Brief Inpatient Social-Skills Training for Young Adults With Psychosis (Moe et al., 2021).
- Effects of PEERS® Social Skills Training on Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities During College (Rose et al., 2021).
- Brief Report: Does Gender Matter in Intervention for ASD? Examining the Impact of the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention on Social Behavior Among Females with ASD (McVey et al., 2017)
- A Replication and Extension of the PEERS® for Young Adults Social Skills Intervention: Examining Effects on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (McVey et al., 2016)
- A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Social Skills in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The UCLA PEERS Program (Laugeson et al., 2015)
- Social Skills Training for Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders- A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study (Gantman et al., 2012)
- Transition to Adulthood for High-Functioning Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Kapp et al., 2011)
- Program evaluation of an adapted PEERS® social skills program in young adults with autism spectrum disorder and/or mild intellectual impairment and social skills difficulties (Honan et al., 2022)
- Effect of PEERS® Class on Conversational Skills of Adults with Autism in College (Howorth et al., 2022)
- Fostering Friendship and Dating Skills Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Version of the PEERS® for Young Adults Curriculum (Płatos et al., 2023)
PEERS® for Preschoolers
- Examining Feasibility and Outcomes of the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program (Factor et al., 2022).
- An Initial Pilot Study Examining Child Social Skills, Caregiver Styles, and Family Functioning in the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program for Young Autistic Children and their Caregivers (Factor et al., 2021).
- Long‑Term Treatment Outcomes of PEERS® for Preschoolers: A Parent‑Mediated Social Skills Training Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Tripathi et al., 2021).
- PEERS® for Preschoolers preliminary outcomes and predictors of treatment response (Antezana et al., 2022)
- Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: PEERS for Preschoolers (Park et al., 2022)
- Pilot Study Examining Caregiver–Child and Family Functioning in PEERS® for Preschoolers (Factor et al., 2022)
- Parent perspectives on treatment: A mixed methods analysis of PEERS® for Preschoolers (Tripathi et al., 2023)
PEERS® for Careers
Cross-Cultural Validation of PEERS®
Australia
- Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for adolescents with an acquired brain injury: A randomized controlled trial (Gilmore et al., 2021)
- Multicentre, Randomised Waitlist Control Trial Investigating a Parent-Assisted Social Skills Group Programme for Adolescents with Brain Injuries: Protocol for the Friends Project (Gilmore et al., 2019)
Canada
China
- Adaptation and Feasibility of the Mandarin Version of PEERS® for Autistic Adolescents (Lao et al., 2023)
- Research on effect of social PEERS training for mother and children with autism spectrum disorder in Shanghai (publication written in Chinese) (Zu et al., 2020)
- Social skill training for children with autistic spectrum disorder on the uncertainty of the disease from mothers (Zu et al,. 2022)
- Learning How to Make Friends for Chinese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Hong Kong Chinese Version of the PEERS® Intervention (Shum, et al., 2019)
- Research progress on the effect of program for the education and enrichment of relational skills on social skill improvement among adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Song & Du, 2018)
Iceland
Israel
Italy
- Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Italy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Social Skills Intervention for Autistic Adolescents (Fatta et al., 2024)
- Enhancing Social Outcomes in Autistic Youth: Assessing the Impact of PEERS® Booster Sessions (Fatta et al., 2024)
Japan
Latino/a Populations
The Netherlands
- A randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of the Dutch version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) (Idris et al., 2022)
- Development and preliminary testing of the Dutch version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) (Idris et al., 2020)
- The Dutch Translation of the PEERS Training (Jagersma et al., 2018)
- The ACCEPT-study: design of an RCT with an active treatment control condition to study the effectiveness of the Dutch version of PEERS® for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (van Pelt et al., 2020)
Pakistan
Poland
- Effects of Social Skills Training for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention via Hybrid and In-Person Delivery (Platos et al., 2022)
- Effects of Social Skills Training for Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Adaptation of the PEERS® Intervention via Hybrid and In-Person Delivery (Płatos et al., 2022)
- Fostering Friendship and Dating Skills Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Version of the PEERS® for Young Adults Curriculum (Płatos et al., 2023)
South Korea
- Age as a Moderator of Social Skills Intervention Response Among Korean Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Hong et al., 2018)
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Korean Version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for Young Adults (PEERS®-YA-K) With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study (Oh et al., 2021)
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Korean Version of the PEERS Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training Program for Teens With ASD (Yoo et al., 2014)
Taiwan
- A preliminary randomized controlled study of the PEERS® program for Taiwanese autistic adolescents: The effectiveness on reducing school bullying and enhancing social function (Hsiao, et al., 2024)
- Effectiveness, durability, and clinical correlates of the PEERS social skills intervention in young adults with autism spectrum disorder: the first evidence outside North America (Chien et al., 2021)
Thailand
United Kingdom
Others
- Metaverse-based social skills training programme for children with autism spectrum disorder to improve social interaction ability: an open-label, single-centre, randomised controlled pilot trial (Lee et al., 2023)
- Measurement of social skills treatment outcome in autism: Moving beyond informant report and considering diversity (Moody et al., 2022)
- Social Skills Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan (Moody & Laugeson, 2020)
- A Review of Social Skills Manuals for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Hall et. al., 2018)
- Transition to Adulthood for High-Functioning Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Kapp et al., 2011)