The Role of Nice and Nasty Theory of Mind in Teacher-Selected Peer Models for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

The study aimed at verifying if nice and nasty theory of mind behaviors, in association with teachers’ peer buddy nomination, could be used to correctly select peer models for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Mentalizing abilities and emotional and behavioral characteristics of 601 adolescents were assessed. Results suggest that teachers recognize how students socially use their mind-reading ability, and employ such knowledge to select peers as intervention agents.

• autism spectrum disorder
• peer-mediated intervention
• teacher nominations
• mental abilities

Special thanks to the adolescents who were involved in this study and to the principals and the teachers of the high schools in Rome where participants were recruited. The authors also thank Prof. Franco Sapia (ITAS G. Garibaldi) and Dr. Ilaria Marchetti (Provincia di Roma) for invaluable assistance, providing various research supports for the intervention.

Notes

Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/orPUBLICation of this article.

Funding The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/orPUBLICation of this article.

Additional information

Fiorenzo Laghi is Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at Sapienza, University of Rome. His primary research interests focus on prevention of risk behaviors and promotion of positive outcomes for at-risk child and adolescent populations. He is Director of Master in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Sapienza, University of Rome.

Antonia Lonigro is clinical psychologist and PhD in Developmental Psychology at Sapienza, University of Rome.

Simona Levanto is the Coordinator of specialized assistants for adolescents with ASD at ITA G. Garibaldi.

Maurizio Ferraro is the President of Cooperativa G. Garibaldi that is composed by adolescents with ASD and their parents.

Emma Baumgartner is Full Professor of Developmental Psychology. Her primary research interests focus on child and adolescence social competence.

Roberto Baiocco is Professor of Developmental Psychology at Sapienza, University of Rome. He is Director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity at the Sapienza University of Rome.