Virtual Reality in Transition Program for Adults with Autism: Self-Efficacy, Confidence, and Interview Skills

Adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) are understudied within the literature, especially within the context of employment. Extant data, though limited, suggests competitive integrated employment rates which are significantly lower than nuerotypical individuals. Researchers have suggested that one factor related to these low employment rates are limited interview skills demonstrated by individuals with HFASD. Additionally, individuals with HFASD tend to report lower levels of self-confidence and self-efficacy (SE), within the context of their ability to successfully pass a job interview. Benefits of employment for those with HFASD include a sense of purpose, independence, and social interaction, all of which improve wellness. To address these needs, a Virtual Reality Job Interview Training Program (VR-JIT) was implemented in an adult transition program to improve job interview skills. As such, this exploratory study examined pre-post changes in participants’ SE and self-confidence specific to their perceived interview skills; VR-JIT was a viable method to improve confidence and skill with interviewing and may help improve vocational opportunities that are linked with wellness for those with HFASD.

[1]  A. Bandura.  Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control , 1997, Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy.

[2]  Janet B W Williams,et al.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 2013 .

[3]  Carol Schall,et al.  Employment for adults with autism spectrum disorders: A retrospective review of a customized employment approach. , 2016, Research in developmental disabilities.

[4]  Dc Washington.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Ed. , 1994 .

[5]  C. Dissanayake,et al.  Transition to work: Perspectives from the autism spectrum , 2018, Autism : the international journal of research and practice.

[6]  Ryan O. Kellems,et al.  Collaboration in Transition Assessment: School Psychologists and Special Educators Working Together to Improve Outcomes for Students With Disabilities , 2016 .

[7]  M. Carter.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. , 2014 .

[8]  Derek K. Nord,et al.  Employment in the community for people with and without autism: A comparative analysis , 2016 .

[9]  L. Humm,et al.  Brief Report: Vocational Outcomes for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders at Six Months After Virtual Reality Job Interview Training , 2015, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[10]  Kathrin Heinitz,et al.  Aspergers – Different, Not Less: Occupational Strengths and Job Interests of Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome , 2014, PloS one.

[11]  S. Ozonoff.  Reliability and validity of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in studies of autism. , 1995 .

[12]  J. Lake,et al.  Mental Health Services for Individuals with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2014, Autism research and treatment.

[13]  Christine P. D. M. van der Aa,et al.  Computer-mediated communication in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and controls , 2016 .

[14]  Helen I. Cannella-Malone,et al.  Vocational Skills Interventions for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of the Literature , 2016 .

[15]  P. Carbone,et al.  Antipsychotic Use and Metabolic Monitoring in Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Served in a Medicaid Medical Home , 2016, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[16]  J. Taylor,et al.  Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2014, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[17]  Richard E. Lucas,et al.  Subjective Well-Being: The Science of Happiness and Life Satisfaction , 2009 .

[18]  Mary Wagner,et al.  Postsecondary Education and Employment Among Youth With an Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2012, Pediatrics.

[19]  D. Zager.  Positive Psychology and Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2013 .

[20]  Matthew J. Smith,et al.  Virtual Reality Job Interview Training for Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities , 2014, The Journal of nervous and mental disease.

[21]  Deborah M. Ward,et al.  Social Media Use and Happiness in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2018, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[22]  Micah O. Mazurek,et al.  Prevalence and Correlates of Screen-Based Media Use Among Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2011, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[23]  Daniel C. Krawczyk,et al.  Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training for Young Adults with High-Functioning Autism , 2012, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[24]  Timo Lorenz,et al.  Measuring Psychological Capital: Construction and Validation of the Compound PsyCap Scale (CPC-12) , 2016, PloS one.

[25]  D. Hendrie,et al.  Employers’ perception of the costs and the benefits of hiring individuals with autism spectrum disorder in open employment in Australia , 2017, PloS one.

[26]  P. Mitchell,et al.  The potential of virtual reality in social skills training for people with autistic spectrum disorders. , 2002, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR.

[27]  Yurgos Politis,et al.  Involving People with Autism in Development of Virtual World for Provision of Skills Training , 2017 .

[28]  M. Wehmeyer,et al.  Comparisons of Self-Determination Among Students With Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Learning Disabilities: A Multivariate Analysis , 2017 .

[29]  Andrea Weinstein,et al.  Simulated job interview skill training for people with psychiatric disability: feasibility and tolerability of virtual reality training. , 2011, Schizophrenia bulletin.

[30]  E. Walker,et al.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 2013 .

[31]  Alisha Ohl,et al.  Predictors of employment status among adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. , 2017, Work.

[32]  J. Greenberg,et al.  Characterizing Objective Quality of Life and Normative Outcomes in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Latent Class Analysis , 2016, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[33]  A. Bandura.  Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. , 1977, Psychological review.

[34]  Timo Lorenz,et al.  Autism and Overcoming Job Barriers: Comparing Job-Related Barriers and Possible Solutions in and outside of Autism-Specific Employment , 2016, PloS one.

[35]  Shiri Pearlman-Avnion,et al.  The Impact Of A Post-Secondary Education Program On The Self-Efficacy And Future Orientation Of People With High-Functioning Autism , 2016 .

[36]  Daniel C. Krawczyk,et al.  Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training for children with high functioning autism , 2016, Comput. Hum. Behav..