Social and emotional skills and mental health in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the way in which we are aware of and can manage our own emotions. Factors like SEL skills may have the ability to impact one’s mental health. While there have been intervention studies on improving SEL skills in the ASD (a neurodevelopmental condition, defined by social communication and interaction differences) population, there is little research regarding the relationship between SEL competencies and levels of depression and anxiety in youth with ASD. Understanding the relationship and impact of SEL on mental health within the ASD community in particular will have important implications for the education system and the ways in which clinicians or practitioners work with the ASD population (who are at high risk of having a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression). The goal of the current research study aimed to explore whether SEL competencies predict levels of anxiety and/or depression in children and adolescents with autism. Across North America (i.e., Canada and the United States), 82 parents of autistic children, aged 9-15, were asked to complete an online questionnaire about their child’s SEL competencies, autism characteristics, anxiety, and depression. Two simple linear regression analyses were conducted, demonstrating a significant relationship between depression and SEL competencies and a nearing significant relationship between anxiety and SEL competencies. These results have important implications on the education system and clinical work with the ASD population.