Social Groups for Autistic Young Adults (SDARIYA)

NCT07222982 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2409010784
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a clinical trial that will test whether a group program called SDARI (Socio-dramatic Affective Relational Intervention) can help autistic young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 feel more connected to others and improve their social relationships. The study will try to answer: Can SDARI be used successfully with autistic adults? Does SDARI help people feel more connected, supported, and mentally well? There are two groups in the study. One group will participate in the SDARI program, and the other group will do different structured activities that don't focus on social connection. Researchers will compare the two groups to see if SDARI leads to better outcomes. Participants will: Complete screening to confirm eligibility (including autism traits and IQ) Attend weekly in-person group sessions for 10 weeks Take part in games and activities designed to support connection and collaboration Complete surveys and interviews before, during, and after the program Have the option to choose someone close to them (like a friend or family member) to fill out surveys about their experiences

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

autism; intervention; social performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Social Responsiveness

  measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (min= 0 and max=195), higher score= worse outcomes

  Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Friendship

  Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up)

• Anxiety

  Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up)

• Depression

  Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up)

• Capacity for social and interpersonal pleasure

  Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up)

• Cognitive flexibility

  Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up)

Study Arms (2)

SDARI-YA

EXPERIMENTAL

follow SDARI Protocol

Behavioral: SDARI-YA

AYA

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

follow AYA Protocol

Other: AYA

Interventions

SDARI-YA BEHAVIORAL

SDARI is a group-based, performance-based intervention designed to provide participants with opportunities to engage in and experience targeted interpersonal interactions, with minimal didactic instruction or instrumental reinforcement. The intervention consists of three core components: SDARI utilizes affectively motivating acting games that are adapted for the developmental stage and characteristics of the target population. Clinicians promote strong relationships among participants and between participants and clinicians by fostering a supportive and enjoyable environment, facilitating both structured and unstructured interactions, encouraging collaborative problem-solving, and reinforcing positive peer engagement. SDARI incorporates motivating activities-such as noncompetitive physical games, shared interests, and goal-oriented tasks-to enhance interpersonal motivation and engagement.

SDARI-YA

AYA OTHER

This group provides concrete presentation of thematic content and connects those themes to specific semi-structured, naturalistic games and activities. Themes are addressed and targeted according to the developmental needs of individual group members. Core Program Principles include: Use of recreational, motivational activities adapted for the target age range and population Positive reinforcement of interpersonal engagement through structured activities Integration of strong, age-appropriate motivators The AYA program uniquely combines these elements to facilitate both development and enjoyment. Group members engage in increasingly complex interpersonal interactions within the group setting and gain motivation to generalize these experiences across other environments, including home and educational contexts.

Also known as: Control

AYA

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Have graduated from high school (or an equivalent program) and are between the ages of 18-30 years old
• Demonstrate the ability to complete consent and all study measures and procedures in English
• Score ≥ 65 on the RAADS
• Score ≥ 70 on the KBIT-2R
• Score ≥ 6 on the ADOS-2 Module 4
• Are physically able to complete study activities (e.g., no significant physical impairment or mental condition restricting participation in study activities).
• Are physically able to travel to the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA to attend all weekly study sessions

You may not qualify if:

• Are still enrolled in high school (or an equivalent program) or are not between the ages of 18-30 years old
• Are unable to complete study measures and/or procedures in English
• Are unable to complete consent procedures
• Score ≤ 65 on the RAADS
• Score ≤ 70 on the KBIT-2R
• Score ≤ 6 on the ADOS-2
• Cannot physically complete study activities
• Cannot physically travel to the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA to attend study sessions
• Have a severe medical or psychiatric condition preventing them from safely completing study activities

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Drexel University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Matthew Lerner, PhD

  Drexel University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

China Parenteau, B.A.

CONTACT

5105085858; china.parenteau@gmail.com

Kyleigh Hricak, B.A.

CONTACT

kh3434@drexel.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: N/A participants, providers and PI will know what condition the individual is placed in.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: SDARIYA vs AYA (control)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 1, 2025
• First Posted: October 30, 2025
• Study Start: January 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2031
• Last Updated: October 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)