A systematic review of cultural considerations and adaptation of social skills interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Background: There is an increasing need for culturally competent interventions for individuals with ASD. Given the dynamic relationship between culture and social behavior, the effectiveness of social skills interventions may be particularly influenced by the degree to which they are culturally appropriate. The extent to which ASD social skills intervention research has considered the role of culture (either through including diverse samples or by implementing cultural adaptations) is not well understood. Method: The current study is a systematic review of social skills intervention studies for individuals with ASD. The aims of the current review were to evaluate the extent to which studies have included diverse samples, and the extent to which cultural adaptations have been made to social skills interventions. Results: Sixty-two percent of studies published since 2010 reported the race, ethnicity, or nationality of participants. Minority populations were notably underrepresented in studies conducted in the United States. Only five studies incorporated cultural adaptations to social skills interventions, and these studies included both surface and deep structure adaptations for diverse populations. Conclusion: Greater diversity is needed in studies of social skills interventions for children and adolescents with ASD. Although a few studies highlighted the feasibility of incorporating cultural adaptation strategies for ASD interventions, future research is needed to examine the extent to which cultural adaptations enhance the effectiveness of social skills interventions in this population.