Social Groups for Autistic Young Adults (SDARIYA)

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

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

SDARI-YA

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.

OTHER

AYA

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Drexel University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Matthew Lerner, PhD · Drexel University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-01-15

Primary Completion

2030-02-28

Completion

2031-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations