Impact of peer-support programs for individuals with autism: A systematic review.
Monica Hm Verkooijen, Marjolijn Ketelaar, Max van Woerden and 3 others
PMID 40956976WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic participants in peer-support programs consistently described feeling understood, empowered, and less alone.
However, no study used a control group, so these improvements cannot be separated from time or natural development. The evidence is promising but not proven.
Key findings
01All 15 included studies reported positive effects of peer support, with participants feeling better understood, empowered, and experiencing a sense of belonging.
02Facilitators included flexible formats and the involvement of autistic experts-by-experience in program design, while barriers included scheduling issues and lack of structure.
03None of the included studies used a control group, and follow-up was often absent or short-term, preventing firm conclusions about effectiveness.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
None of the 15 included studies used a control group, so it is impossible to know if the positive changes were due to the peer support or other factors like time or natural development. Sample sizes were very small, ranging from 5 to 54 participants, which limits the reliability of the findings. All studies were from Western, English-speaking countries, so the results may not apply to other cultural contexts. The review excluded gray literature and informal peer-support initiatives, which may represent a large part of actual peer support. Publication bias favoring positive results cannot be ruled out. Findings may not apply to individuals under 12 or those with significant functional challenges.
Declared interests
The authors declared no financial support for the research and no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the consistent positive reports as proof that peer support works. Because no study included a control group, the improvements could be due to natural development, regression to the mean, or the Hawthorne effect. The evidence is currently too weak to recommend peer support as a standalone clinical intervention for specific outcomes.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →