Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview
IntroductionAs social relationships are intertwined with mental health recovery, it is important to address a client’s social support network during mental health interventions. This seems even more important for autistic clients, because research suggests they have on average smaller networks and e...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1411908/full |
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| author | Rinske M. van den Heuvel Rinske M. van den Heuvel Rinske M. van den Heuvel Hilde M. Geurts Hilde M. Geurts Michel Wensing Jan-Pieter Teunisse Jan-Pieter Teunisse |
| author_facet | Rinske M. van den Heuvel Rinske M. van den Heuvel Rinske M. van den Heuvel Hilde M. Geurts Hilde M. Geurts Michel Wensing Jan-Pieter Teunisse Jan-Pieter Teunisse |
| author_sort | Rinske M. van den Heuvel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAs social relationships are intertwined with mental health recovery, it is important to address a client’s social support network during mental health interventions. This seems even more important for autistic clients, because research suggests they have on average smaller networks and experience more loneliness than non-autistic individuals. Therefore, an interview assessing the social support network in relation to intervention goals was co-created together with stakeholders (autistic clients, mental healthcare professionals and a mother of an autistic client). In addition, the psychometric properties and acceptability of this Network-in-Action-Interview (NiA-I) were studied as pre-registered (AsPredicted #59767).MethodsThe Nominal Group Technique was used to co-create the NiA-I with stakeholders and it was administered to autistic clients (n = 44) recruited in a highly specialized mental health facility.ResultsNetwork-in-Action-Interview social support scores were significantly correlated with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, indicating sufficient convergent validity. Clients and professionals reported that the NiA-I provided the therapist with greater insight into the client’s social support network. Professionals reported the NiA-I could be improved regarding administration duration.DiscussionThis cross-sectional study shows that the NiA-I is a solid and helpful tool for including the social network in clinical practice. Addressing and including a client’s social support network is important for recovery-focused mental health treatment. The NiA-I can assist professionals in taking such actions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d1edc2673e9b4715bc716d51c4113a13 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d1edc2673e9b4715bc716d51c4113a132025-08-20T03:04:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14119081411908Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-InterviewRinske M. van den Heuvel0Rinske M. van den Heuvel1Rinske M. van den Heuvel2Hilde M. Geurts3Hilde M. Geurts4Michel Wensing5Jan-Pieter Teunisse6Jan-Pieter Teunisse7Leo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Oosterbeek, NetherlandsLectoraat Volwaardig Leven met Autisme, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, NetherlandsDepartment of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Oosterbeek, NetherlandsDepartment of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsGeneral Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Oosterbeek, NetherlandsLectoraat Volwaardig Leven met Autisme, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, NetherlandsIntroductionAs social relationships are intertwined with mental health recovery, it is important to address a client’s social support network during mental health interventions. This seems even more important for autistic clients, because research suggests they have on average smaller networks and experience more loneliness than non-autistic individuals. Therefore, an interview assessing the social support network in relation to intervention goals was co-created together with stakeholders (autistic clients, mental healthcare professionals and a mother of an autistic client). In addition, the psychometric properties and acceptability of this Network-in-Action-Interview (NiA-I) were studied as pre-registered (AsPredicted #59767).MethodsThe Nominal Group Technique was used to co-create the NiA-I with stakeholders and it was administered to autistic clients (n = 44) recruited in a highly specialized mental health facility.ResultsNetwork-in-Action-Interview social support scores were significantly correlated with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, indicating sufficient convergent validity. Clients and professionals reported that the NiA-I provided the therapist with greater insight into the client’s social support network. Professionals reported the NiA-I could be improved regarding administration duration.DiscussionThis cross-sectional study shows that the NiA-I is a solid and helpful tool for including the social network in clinical practice. Addressing and including a client’s social support network is important for recovery-focused mental health treatment. The NiA-I can assist professionals in taking such actions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1411908/fullautismadultsmental healthcaresocial networksocial support |
| spellingShingle | Rinske M. van den Heuvel Rinske M. van den Heuvel Rinske M. van den Heuvel Hilde M. Geurts Hilde M. Geurts Michel Wensing Jan-Pieter Teunisse Jan-Pieter Teunisse Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview Frontiers in Psychology autism adults mental healthcare social network social support |
| title | Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview |
| title_full | Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview |
| title_fullStr | Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview |
| title_short | Measuring the social support network in autistic clients: development and validation of the Network in Action-Interview |
| title_sort | measuring the social support network in autistic clients development and validation of the network in action interview |
| topic | autism adults mental healthcare social network social support |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1411908/full |
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