Efficacy of the Korean PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K) Social Skills Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07505290 | Active Not Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: B-2601-1021-00102-2025-0004
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Korean version of the PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K), a parent-assisted social skills intervention for preschool-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving the PEERS®-PS-K program, or a wait-list control group. The study focuses on improving social skills, such as making friends and interacting with peers, through structured lessons and parent coaching.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Social Skills Training; Parent Coaching; Preschoolers; PEERS; Randomized Controlled Trial; Early Intervention; Autism Spectrum Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from Baseline in SRS-2 Total T-score at 16 weeks

  The SRS-2 includes five subscales: Social Awareness, Social Cognition, Social Communication, Social Motivation, and Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behavior. Each subscale provides a T-score to identify specific areas of social impairment.

  Baseline, Post-intervention (16 weeks), and Follow-up (32 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Change in Korean version of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-III (K-Vineland-III) score

  Baseline, 16 weeks, 32 weeks

• Change in Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) score

  Baseline, Post-intervention (16 weeks), and Follow-up (32 weeks)

• Change in Quality of Socialization Questionnaire (QSQ) score

  Baseline, Post-intervention (16 weeks), and Follow-up (32 weeks)

• Change in Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool (BRIEF-P) score

  Baseline, Post-intervention (16 weeks), and Follow-up (32 weeks)

• Change in Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC) score

  Baseline, Post-intervention (16 weeks), and Follow-up (32 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

PEERS®-PS-K Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive the Korean version of the PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K) intervention immediately. This includes 16 weekly 90-minute sessions of social skills training for children and concurrent coaching sessions for parents.

Behavioral: The Korean version of PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K)

Waitlist Control Group

OTHER

Participants will not receive any specialized social skills intervention during the first 16 weeks (control period). After the post-control assessment is completed, these participants will receive the same 16-week PEERS®-PS-K intervention.

Behavioral: The Korean version of PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K)

Interventions

The Korean version of PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K) BEHAVIORAL

The Korean version of PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K) is a 16-week, parent-assisted social skills intervention for preschoolers with ASD. The program consists of weekly 90-minute sessions. Children are taught social skills through puppet shows, role-playing, and structured play, focusing on making friends, playing with peers, and managing conflicts. Concurrently, parents receive coaching sessions to learn how to facilitate their children's social interactions and manage playdates in natural settings. Weekly homework is assigned to generalize the learned skills.

Also known as: Social Skills Training, Parent-Assisted Social Skills Intervention

PEERS®-PS-K Intervention Group; Waitlist Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 4 Years - 6 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children aged 4 to 6 years (at least 4 years 0 months and less than 7 years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through standardized diagnostic tools(K-ADOS-2 / K-ADI-R).
• Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ) of 70 or higher on the Korean Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (K-WPPSI).
• Native Korean speakers with sufficient verbal fluency to communicate in full sentences appropriate for their age.
• Capable of participating in group activities and language-based interventions as determined through a screening procedure.
• Parents or legal guardians who understand the study's purpose and provide voluntary informed consent for both themselves and their child.

You may not qualify if:

• Parents or legal guardians who do not consent to their child's participation in the study.
• Presence of intellectual disability or other comorbid psychiatric conditions that may interfere with study participation.
• Children exhibiting clinically significant challenging behaviors that could disrupt group sessions.
• Other clinically significant neurological, medical, visual, or hearing impairments.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Seoul National University Bundang Hospital: lead
• Kyung Hee University Hospital: collaborator
• Seoul St. Mary's Hospital: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Kyung Hee University Medical Center

Seoul, Dongdaemun-gu, 02447, South Korea

Location

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, South Korea

Location

The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital

Seoul, Seocho-gu, 06591, South Korea

Location

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Jae Hyun Han, MD, PhD Candidate

  Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Hee Jeong Yoo, MD, PhD

  Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Due to the nature of the wait-list control design, participants and care providers cannot be masked as they are aware of the timing of the intervention. However, outcomes will be assessed by independent assessors who are blinded to the group assignment.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Assistant Professor

Model Details: The control group is a wait-list control; they will receive the same PEERS®-PS-K intervention after the initial 16-week assessment period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2026
• First Posted: April 1, 2026
• Study Start: February 19, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027
• Last Updated: April 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

KR (3)