| Author: | So, Wing-han Ada |
| Title: | Explore how group running activities help adolescents with features of asperger syndrome (AS) develop their social skills |
| Advisors: | Leung, Chuen Suen Zeno (APSS) Ku, Hok-bun (APSS) |
| Degree: | DSW |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Subject: | Asperger's syndrome in adolescence Asperger's syndrome -- Exercise therapy Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Applied Social Sciences |
| Pages: | 329 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Today, an increasing number of individuals are diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, there is great debate as to which interventions for children and adolescents with features of AS are most effective. As yet, no single, universally best-suited and effective therapy fits the needs of all adolescents with features of AS. Based on the literature, the social skills training group has been identified as a successful intervention for children and adolescents with AS and high functioning autism. In group work, they are given the opportunity to practice their social skills within the context of a controlled environment and to discuss common problems together. Involvement in physical activity is regarded as a challenge to individuals with features of AS due to poor motor functioning. Although studies report many positive effects of sports and physical activity, there is limited research concerning the application of group running activities on adolescents with features of AS. Apart from physical benefits, there are other positive impacts that result from group running activities among adolescents with features of AS. Thus, group running activities can possibly be regarded as an effective strategy or intervention in responding to the needs of adolescents with features of AS. As a practice research, this study explored how a social skills training group with an embedded group running program might help adolescents with features of AS enhance their social skills and bring about various benefits and impacts in a connected and interwoven way. There were 13 participants recruited in the two intervention groups entitled "Running fast, Running fun" in form of the social skills training group. Each group session consisted of two major parts: the first hour was a group running skills training session conducted by qualified and experienced running coaches; the second hour was a social skills training session conducted by the researcher. The two major components, the social skills training and group running skills training, were closely complementary and connected to each other in the research design. All the findings in this study were very positively proven and closely linked to the aim of this practice research. The benefits gained as a result of the interplay between social skills training and group running training activities on the adolescents with features of AS, and the possible factors contributing to all these benefits, were analyzed in-depth by referring to the extracted data sources, as well as being evidenced in the relevant literature. It is highly expected that this research study may provide an important reference guide for practitioners who are closely working with adolescents with features of AS, especially counsellors and the social workers in school or non-school settings. In the long term, it is greatly hoped that this study might also provide further help to this group of adolescents in facilitating their emotional wellÂbeing, physical betterment, academic achievement and personal growth. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5579.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 8.56 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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