Support Groups for Adults With Asperger Syndrome

A total of 35 adults (24-77 years; 24 males and 11 females) with Asperger syndrome (AS) who were in, were waiting to get in, or had been in support groups participated in the study. In general, the adults were highly educated but unemployed or underemployed and living alone with family members as friends. The participants were interviewed, completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient questionnaire and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and rated group experiences. The results of qualitative and quantitative analyses can be interpreted to conclude that participants were lonely and perceived support groups as beneficial for providing (a) social skills and interaction, (b) information and advice, and (c) structure. Participants also reported that someone had encouraged them to attend a support group. This information can help practitioners gain insight into the content and structure of support groups for individuals with AS and may aid in the design of future research on services for adults with AS.