Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: Main Research Portfolio

: 1) Literature Review: Family burden and coping responses in OCD: a narrative review; 2) Service Improvement Project: Transition experiences of patients and parents to an adult cystic fibrosis service; 3) Main Research Project: Social anxiety and self-perceptions of social performance in adolescents and young adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders.

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) investigate if adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are high in social anxiety underestimate their social performance when compared with those low in social anxiety, and 2) investigate the association between social motivation and social anxiety. Participants (n=20) aged 14-21 years completed measures of social anxiety, loneliness and social satisfaction before taking part in a video-recorded group discussion. Self and observer ratings of social performance were analysed. Results revealed that participants high in social anxiety rated themselves significantly poorer than did observers. The interaction between social anxiety group and rater was non-significant. Loneliness significantly correlated with social anxiety. This study highlights how cognitive factors may be involved in social anxiety for young people with ASD and discusses implications for psychological intervention.

Date of Award	17 Sep 2014
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Ailsa Russell (Supervisor), Joanna Adams (Supervisor) & Claire Lomax (Supervisor)