Impact of Peer-Support Programs for Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review
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ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
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2026
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| author | Monica H. M. Verkooijen Marjolijn Ketelaar Max van Woerden Wouter G. Staal Indira Tendolkar Janneke R. Zinkstok |
| author_facet | Monica H. M. Verkooijen Marjolijn Ketelaar Max van Woerden Wouter G. Staal Indira Tendolkar Janneke R. Zinkstok Monica H. M. Verkooijen Marjolijn Ketelaar Max van Woerden Wouter G. Staal Indira Tendolkar Janneke R. Zinkstok |
| collection | Education Resources Information Center |
| contents | Impact of Peer-Support Programs for Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review Monica H. M. Verkooijen Marjolijn Ketelaar Max van Woerden Wouter G. Staal Indira Tendolkar Janneke R. Zinkstok Peer Relationship Autism Spectrum Disorders Social Support Groups Adolescents Adults Program Effectiveness Well Being Self Esteem Academic Achievement Affordances Barriers Empowerment The neurodiversity approach recognizes autism as a natural variation of human experience, emphasizing unique strengths while acknowledging social and behavioral challenges that may affect quality of life. Peer support, based on shared experiences and mutual understanding, has shown benefits in mental health care, yet its impact for autistic individuals remains underexplored. This review is of peer-support programs for individuals with autism, focusing on impact, facilitators, and barriers. A systematic literature review was conducted using Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Sociological Abstracts. Studies involving peer-support programs for autistic individuals aged 12 and older were selected. Fifteen articles described 12 unique peer-support programs with varying goals, such as enhancing personal development. Studies reported diverse improvements, including enhanced well-being, self-esteem, and academic performance. Many participants valued connecting with peers in an autism-focused context. Most articles discussed some facilitators and barriers. Peer support shows promising benefits for autistic individuals, fostering empowerment and well-being. However, the methodological limitations of the included studies, such as small sample sizes and lack of control groups, limit the strength of these conclusions. Future research should therefore use more robust research methods and investigate accessibility and potential risks to optimize peer support for this population. |
| format | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| id | eric_EJ1494681 |
| institution | ERIC Institute of Education Sciences |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | eric |
| spellingShingle | Impact of Peer-Support Programs for Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review Monica H. M. Verkooijen Marjolijn Ketelaar Max van Woerden Wouter G. Staal Indira Tendolkar Janneke R. Zinkstok Peer Relationship Autism Spectrum Disorders Social Support Groups Adolescents Adults Program Effectiveness Well Being Self Esteem Academic Achievement Affordances Barriers Empowerment Impact of Peer-Support Programs for Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review Monica H. M. Verkooijen Marjolijn Ketelaar Max van Woerden Wouter G. Staal Indira Tendolkar Janneke R. Zinkstok Peer Relationship Autism Spectrum Disorders Social Support Groups Adolescents Adults Program Effectiveness Well Being Self Esteem Academic Achievement Affordances Barriers Empowerment The neurodiversity approach recognizes autism as a natural variation of human experience, emphasizing unique strengths while acknowledging social and behavioral challenges that may affect quality of life. Peer support, based on shared experiences and mutual understanding, has shown benefits in mental health care, yet its impact for autistic individuals remains underexplored. This review is of peer-support programs for individuals with autism, focusing on impact, facilitators, and barriers. A systematic literature review was conducted using Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Sociological Abstracts. Studies involving peer-support programs for autistic individuals aged 12 and older were selected. Fifteen articles described 12 unique peer-support programs with varying goals, such as enhancing personal development. Studies reported diverse improvements, including enhanced well-being, self-esteem, and academic performance. Many participants valued connecting with peers in an autism-focused context. Most articles discussed some facilitators and barriers. Peer support shows promising benefits for autistic individuals, fostering empowerment and well-being. However, the methodological limitations of the included studies, such as small sample sizes and lack of control groups, limit the strength of these conclusions. Future research should therefore use more robust research methods and investigate accessibility and potential risks to optimize peer support for this population. |
| title | Impact of Peer-Support Programs for Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review |
| topic | Peer Relationship Autism Spectrum Disorders Social Support Groups Adolescents Adults Program Effectiveness Well Being Self Esteem Academic Achievement Affordances Barriers Empowerment |
| url | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1494681 |