Research & evidence

The studies behind PEERS®.

A growing library of peer-reviewed research on the UCLA PEERS® curriculum — randomised controlled trials, long-term follow-up, and adaptations for school and community settings. We add new entries as they're published.

Community deliveryAdolescentsAnxiety & loneliness2024

Efficacy of Community-Delivered PEERS® for Adolescents: Increases in Social Skills and Decreases in Social Anxiety and Loneliness

Parenteau CI, Bent S, Hossain B, Chen Y, Widjaja F, Breard M, Hendren RL. · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

An efficacy study of PEERS® for Adolescents as delivered by community providers — not the original university research team — to autistic teens in real-world clinic and school settings. Pre- and post-program measures showed significant gains in social skills knowledge and frequency of peer get-togethers, alongside significant reductions in self-reported social anxiety and loneliness. The findings support that PEERS® retains its benefits when scaled into community delivery, which is exactly the model peers.asia certifies practitioners to run across Asia Pacific.

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RCTAdolescentsParent-assisted2012

Evidence-based social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: the UCLA PEERS® program

Laugeson EA, Frankel F, Gantman A, Dillon AR, Mogil C. · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

A randomised controlled trial of the 14-week parent-assisted PEERS® curriculum with adolescents on the autism spectrum. Compared with a delayed-treatment control, PEERS® participants showed significant improvements in social skills knowledge, frequency of get-togethers with peers, and overall social responsiveness — and these gains were maintained at the 14-week follow-up. This is the foundational evidence base behind the curriculum certified in the peers.asia training.

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