Research & Evidence
Evidence-Based Social Skills Programs
The PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) curriculum is one of the most extensively researched social skills interventions for autistic individuals and other neurodivergent populations. Developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson and colleagues, PEERS® has been evaluated through numerous randomized controlled trials and peer-reviewed studies demonstrating improvements in social skills, friendship development, and overall quality of life.
At Parliament of Owls, we are proud to offer evidence-based programming grounded in this research.
Learn More
For a comprehensive list of PEERS® research studies and publications, visit the official UCLA PEERS® Research page:
UCLA PEERS® Research: https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/peers/research
Featured Resource Publications
Enhancing Social Outcomes in Autistic Youth: Assessing the Impact of PEERS® Booster Sessions (2024) https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/1-s2.0-s0891422224000301-main_0.pdf
Efficacy of Community-Delivered PEERS® for Adolescents: Increases in Social Skills and Decreases in Social Anxiety and Loneliness (2024)
https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/s10803-024-06433-z.pdf
Outcomes in PEERS® for Adolescents Across Neurodevelopmental Disorders: ADHD, Autism, and Their Co‑occurrence (2023)
https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/s41252-023-00380-z.pdf
Examining the feasibility and effectiveness of PEERS for adolescents via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic (2023)
https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/1-s2.0-s1750946723001794-main.pdf
Efficacy of PEERS® for Adolescents via Telehealth Delivery (2022)
Brief Report: Effectiveness of an Accelerated Version of the PEERS® Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents (2020)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-019-03939-9
Parent and Family Outcomes of PEERS: A Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2014)
https://www.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/12_-_karst_et_al._2014.pdf
Examination of a Parent-Assisted Friendship-Building Program for Adolescents with ADHD (2015)
Effects of an Abbreviated and Adapted PEERS® Curriculum as Part of a College Transition Program for Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum (2022)
https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/howorth_et_al._2022.pdf
Social Skills Training for Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study (2011)
The Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (2023)
https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/jped_354.pdf
Fostering Friendship and Dating Skills Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Version of the PEERS® for Young Adults Curriculum (2023)
https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/users/user-293/s10803-023-05921-y.pdf