PEERS® FOR YOUNG ADULTS

The Social SPACE for Young Adults Aged 18-35 Years

The social space for young adults is where individuals aged 18-35 get together to build the skills required to navigate social relationships, including romantic relationships. The research shows growing concerns for adults who experience social difficulties and the lack of evidence based social skills interventions that are available in the community. Individuals experiencing significant social difficulties can be at greater risk of: social isolation; fewer close meaningful relationships; poor friendship quality and increased conflict; social rejection; more dependence on caregivers; less independence; less post-secondary education; and unemployment. When it comes to romantic relationships, adults experiencing social difficulties have less social and sexual awareness and, therefore, could be at greater risk of sexual exploitation, financial exploitation and victimization. 

The lack of evidence based intervention and services for young adults with social challenges has contributed to some of the above mentioned challenges. Access to services seems to greatly diminish after the age of 21 suggesting there is a gap in service delivery given most evidence based interventions focus on young children. This is not ideal given that social demands change and increase over the lifespan, and interventions are failing to meet the changing and increasing social demands across development. Without appropriate intervention there is a greater risk of peer rejection which can have adverse effects including: mental health problems (i.e. depression, anxiety); poor academic performance; early withdrawal from school; substance abuse; and thoughts of suicide. However, having the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for social integration, and having the opportunity to develop even just one or two friendships, has positive outcomes, including: better adjustment later in life; buffering the impact of stressful life events; positive self esteem; independence; and less likely to develop depression and anxiety. Friendships can also protect our vulnerable population against victimization. 

For the above reasons, The Social Space wants to bridge the gap in services by making available the PEERS® evidence-based social skills program for adults with ASD and other social challenges. This is an exciting opportunity for young adults to learn vital social skills to support social integration. UCLA's PEERS® for Young Adults social skills training program is an international renowned program used to develop social skills in young adults. The program has been trialed and tested with results yielding positive outcomes when it comes to addressing and improving core social deficits in our vulnerable population. The program focuses on ecologically valid (skills are realistic and pragmatic for this day and age) social and relational skills that support the ability to develop friendships and romantic relations, as well as how to handle conflict and rejection. 

The PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) for Young Adults program is a 16-week evidence-based social skills program for motivated young adults aged 18-35 who are interested in learning skills to make and keep friends and to develop romantic relationships.

Every week young adults attend a 90 minute session with a social coach (i.e., parent, family member, adult sibling, life coach, peer mentor, etc.). The young adults attend a separate group to their social coaches. In the young adult session, participants are taught concrete rules and steps of social etiquette that are ecologically valid. The coaches then model the relevant social behaviour pertaining to the skill, demonstrating both appropriate and inappropriate behaviours. There is a library of video role play demonstrations as well as live demonstrations to reinforce social rules. The young adults then engage in behavioural rehearsal exercises in which they have the opportunity to practice skills with explicit instruction from their program coaches. They are then given socialisation homework assignments that encourage the practice of social skills  in natural settings to help generalise skills. At the same time, the young adult's social coach attends a separate session with another facilitator. In this session they are taught how to assist young adults in practicing social skills by providing feedback during weekly socialisation homework assignments.

The PEERS® for Young Adults program covers the following topics:

  • How to use appropriate conversational skills

  • How to choose appropriate friends

  • How to appropriately use electronic forms of communication

  • How to appropriately use humor and assess humor feedback

  • How to start, enter, and exit conversations between peers

  • How to organize successful get-togethers with friends

  • How to develop romantic relationships and use appropriate dating etiquette

  • How to handle arguments and disagreements with friends and in relationships

  • How to handle rejection, teasing, bullying, and rumors/gossip

UCLA's PEERS® program differs from other programs as it involves:

  • A structured program that provides general social information to increase knowledge and develop problem solving skills

  • Parents and teens do homework assignments to generalise what was learnt in session to real life

  • Parents are an integral component of the intervention

  • Differential reinforcement strategies to improve social response from teens

  • Fun and engaging activities to practice social skills with peers

  • Parent coaching so that they can support social skill development at home

  • Various behaviour management techniques, such as self-monitoring, so that skills can be generalised in the real world

  • It focuses on "get togethers" to improve social participation

For more information on the PEERS® program go to https://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers/young-adults

We are now looking for candidates who may be interested in this local program. Contact us now as spots are limited!