Evaluating the impact of the Skills for Living program on quality of life and emotional intelligence in adults with autism

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) poses challenges for social communication, interaction, and overall well-being. In Canada, many adults with ASD do not receive support services, leading to difficulties in their everyday lives, especially during the transition to adulthood. Emotional intelligence reflects emotional and social skills as well as the characteristics that allow us to navigate social-emotional situations. As a result, emotional intelligence it is vital for effective social interactions and well-being. Individuals with ASD often struggle with emotional intelligence, affecting their employment, mental health, and their overall quality of life. Emotional intelligence can be taught (Kotsou et al., 2018), but has rarely been directly investigated in ASD, despite its promise for directly addressing core difficulties of people with autism. This study evaluated the Skills for Living program's effectiveness in enhancing emotional intelligence and quality of life for adults with ASD who do not have an accompanying intellectual disability. Participants were recruited from Asperger Manitoba Inc. and Level IT Up, and online advertisements. screened for suitability, and underwent pre-program assessments, including the Autism Quotient (AQ), Emotional Quotient Inventory 2.0 (EQ-i 2.0), and Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI). The program involves 10 group sessions. Participants completed an assessment of emotional intelligence and quality of life at three time points (pre, post, and maintenance). Change in scores was evaluated using within-group paired samples t-tests and effect size calculations.