An Exploratory Study of Empathy in Children and Adolescents with High Functioning Autism

This pilot study examined cognitive and affective empathic abilities, both before and after a 12-week social skills group. The sample was comprised of 10 children and adolescents with a prior diagnosis of Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism. The subject's cognitive empathy scores were compared to their affective empathy scores pre and post participation in the social skills group. Additionally, pre-test cognitive scores were examined in comparison to post-test cognitive scores and pre-test affective scores were examined in comparison to post-test affective scores. Due to a small sample size, results are not discussed in terms of statistical significance. Rather, trends show that children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome/high functioning autism do not display discrepant abilities in cognitive and affective empathic skills pre test. However, the trends suggest that they display some difference in their empathic abilities after a 12-week social skills group. Overall scores on cognitive scales did not increase significantly after the social skills group, nor did affective scales. Trends suggest that there is some change in affective scores, although at this point only speculation can be made as to the reason for that change. The trends are discussed in depth, as well as possible reasons for these trends.