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Purpose

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to test whether the 6 sessions HEARTS Healthy Relationships classes increases the satisfaction that autistic adults feel about their friendships and dating relationships compared to a 6 weeks online discussion group. The 6 HEARTS sessions cover: healthy and unhealthy relationships, launching new relationships, neurohealth, meeting and reconnecting, boundaries, and healthy endings. Participants who take part in this research study will be in this research study for three months. During this time, participants will be asked to complete two 30-minute and six 10-minute online surveys, and participate in two 20-minute interviews over Zoom.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosed with autism by a healthcare provider or other professional - Willing to be randomized to either HEARTS or the active control condition (ACC) - Have not already participated in the study, nor in the HEARTS class previously - English speaking

Exclusion Criteria

  • None other than does not meet inclusion

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
HEARTS NOW 		Participants in the HEARTS NOW group participants will participate in a weekly six-session online HEARTS class via Zoom about relationships.
  • Behavioral: HEARTS classes
    HEARTS teaches autistic adults about friendship and healthy dating relationships. HEARTS is 6-sessions long and meets weekly over zoom. Each session is 90 minutes long.
Active Comparator
HEARTS LATER 		Participants in the HEARTS LATER group will participate in a six-week online support group via Zoom about relationships. Participants in this arm will have the option of taking the HEARTS class after the study has ended.
  • Behavioral: Online discussion group
    A 90-minute discussion group will meet online weekly for 6 weeks to discuss friendships and healthy dating relationships for autistic adults.

Recruiting Locations

Boston University CRC
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
Contact:
Emily Rothman
617-353-2713
erothman@bu.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Boston University Charles River Campus

Study Contact

Emily F Rothman, ScD
617-353-2713
erothman@bu.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.