Development of Metacognitive Training for Employment Support in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K04426
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Clinical psychology
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Nozomu 札幌医科大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (00274944)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 森元 隆文 札幌医科大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (60516730) ; 横山 和樹 札幌医科大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (10580053) ; 大山 恭史 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 生命工学領域, 主任研究員 (80356675)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: メタ認知訓練 / 自閉スペクトラム症 / 就労支援

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Metacognition refers to the cognition of cognitive activities encompassing one's own perception, emotions, memory, and thinking. This study aims to develop metacognitive training specifically intended for employment support and to create a metacognitive scale addressing issues of metacognition related to social maladaptation in adults with ASD. Regarding the development of the training method, existing metacognitive training methods and related theories targeting schizophrenia and depression were referenced. Consequently, a training program comprising six modules was created, focusing on theory of mind, causal attribution, cognitive flexibility, attentional control, and sensory perception. The metacognitive scale items were developed based on interviews with individuals with ASD and a review of previous research. Future challenges include verifying the effectiveness of the training program and validating the scale items.

Free Research Field

心理リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は成人期ASD者の社会不適応とうつなどの二次障害のリスクとなるストレス状況が生じやすい「就労」に焦点を当て、その支援に役立つものとしてメタ認知訓練法の開発を行った。メタ認知訓練法はASD者が自身の認知的特徴を把握し、制御できるようになることを意図しており、そうした訓練法のプロトタイプを今回作成できたことは、今後の効果検証を経てASD者の職場適応向上、また二次障害に予防につながることが期待できる。