(PS2-69) Promoting Belonging and Reducing Loneliness in Autistic Youth through SDARI: A Community-Based Approach

Abstract Text: Autistic individuals experience greater loneliness than their non-autistic peers (Bauminger & Kasari, 2000) and report reduced feelings of belonging in social spaces, which negatively impacts their well-being (Milton & Sims, 2016). A sense of connection and acceptance, particularly within autistic-centered spaces, has been identified as a crucial factor in promoting belonging and overall well-being (Milton & Sims, 2016). Group-based interventions may provide opportunities for fostering these connections. Prior research suggests that social skills interventions can reduce loneliness by facilitating relationships with peers (e.g., Hillier et al., 2018). Socio-Dramatic Affective-Relational Intervention (SDARI) is a social skills intervention designed to create an environment where autistic individuals can be accepted and develop meaningful peer relationships. SDARI uses a unique approach, where social skills are not didactically taught, but instead practiced through improv activities and games (Lerner & Mikami, 2012). While SDARI has been shown to improve social skills in research settings (Lerner & Mikami, 2012), its impact on loneliness remains unexplored. Additionally, few studies have explored SDARI’s impact in clinical community settings (e.g., Lerner et al., 2010; Marro et al., 2019), leaving a critical gap in understanding how such interventions translate beyond controlled environments. This study aims to address these gaps by evaluating SDARI’s potential to reduce loneliness and foster belonging in a real-world community setting for autistic children and adolescents.

Autistic children and adolescents (ages 8-17 years old) will be recruited through a community mental health organization. Participants will engage in an eight-week SDARI program (Lerner & Mikami, 2012). Participants will complete self-report measures before and after the SDARI program to assess changes in loneliness (measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale, ULS, Russell et al., 1978) and belonging (measured by the General Belongingness Scale, GBS, Malone, Pillow, & Osman, 2012).

SDARI completion rates, along with UCLA and GBS data, will be available for presentation at the ABCT 2025 Annual Meeting.

Findings from this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of how community-based interventions can specifically address loneliness and belonging in autistic individuals. If SDARI effectively reduces loneliness and enhances a sense of belonging, it could offer a valuable model for creating supportive environments where autistic individuals develop meaningful connections.