# Development and feasibility of an online, group intervention for transition-age youth with ASD to promote healthy relationships: Career enhancement for an adolescent health intervention researcher

> **NIH NIH K18** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2021 · $183,490

## Abstract

Project Summary
This career enhancement award will facilitate the transition of an established, federally-funded adolescent
relationship health intervention researcher to the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research. There are
now approximately 450,000 youth with ASD between the ages of 16-24 years old in the U.S., and 50,000 more
turning 18 each year. There is a tremendous need for evidence-based interventions for transition-age youth
and young adults with ASD to promote healthy peer relationships. Autism is characterized by difficulty in social
relations, and many individuals with ASD struggle to establish, maintain and manage peer relationships during
the transition to adulthood. Moreover, individuals with ASD can experience high rates of peer victimization,
including dating and sexual violence victimization. Evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that support the
development of healthy peer relationships are urgently needed. The proposed training and research plan will
equip the applicant with the skills, experience and collaborative relationships necessary to launch a line of
research to evaluate the impact of psychosocial interventions to promote healthy relationships for transition-
age youth with ASD. Training objectives are: (1) ASD topical knowledge, (2) evidence-based intervention
development for transition-age youth with ASD, and (3) statistical methods for clinical trials and for analyses
consistent with the NIMH experimental therapeutics model. Mentors include experts in research with ASD
transition-age youth and young adults, and intervention development for ASD. The research will achieve two
specific aims. Aim 1 is to conduct formative research that will inform the content of the new Healthy Peer
Relationships on the Spectrum (HEARTS) online group intervention, and improve measurement instruments.
Aim 1 will be achieved through qualitative research with 15 youth with ASD (ages 16-22 years old, average or
high IQ), 15 parents, and 15 research and practitioner experts (N=45). Aim 2 will assess the feasibility of
implementation of the HEARTS intervention and intervention research procedures. Aim 2 will be achieved
through a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which N=48 youth with ASD, ages 16-22 years old,
average or high IQ, will be randomized to either the HEARTS intervention or a comparison condition.
Quantitative assessments will be made at baseline and 3 months, and qualitative data will enrich findings. RCT
outcomes are feasibility-related: feasibility of recruitment, delivering the intervention, retaining participants,
fidelity, burden of assessments, acceptability, and human subjects issues. As per the experimental
therapeutics model, target mechanisms and clinical endpoints have been identified. While the goal of the pilot
RCT is not to test hypotheses, the research will test the feasibility of assessing clinical endpoints including
depression, social anxiety, and experiencing psychological, physical, a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10147171
- **Project number:** 5K18MH122791-02
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily F Rothman
- **Activity code:** K18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $183,490
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10147171

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10147171, Development and feasibility of an online, group intervention for transition-age youth with ASD to promote healthy relationships: Career enhancement for an adolescent health intervention researcher (5K18MH122791-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10147171. Licensed CC0.

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