Navigating Two Worlds: The Impact of Cultural Values and Acculturative Stress on Social Cognition in Latino Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

purposeThis exploratory study investigated links between social cognition, acculturation, and cultural values in Latino young adults with ASD and examined social cognition score changes after the ¡Iniciando! la Adultez intervention.

methodsFifty-six Latino young adults with ASD completed pre-intervention measures; forty participated in the intervention. They completed the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) and cultural questionnaires at baseline. A subset of 27 participants completed the post-intervention ESCoT.

resultsESCoT scores did not significantly improve post-intervention. Participants reported moderate acculturative stress, low U.S. acculturation, and strong beliefs in familism and respect. Higher scores on independence/self-reliance positively correlated with ESCoT scores post-intervention. Other cultural variables showed no clear relationship with social cognition.

conclusionFindings suggest a link between autonomy and social cognition, supporting self-determination theories. The intervention's short duration may explain the lack of ESCoT improvement. While the ESCoT did not seem biased against traditional Latino values, its basis in mainstream American norms may influence results, warranting further research with diverse groups. Future studies should explore integrating cultural values into interventions to improve outcomes. This research emphasizes that culturally tailored interventions promoting autonomy may better enhance social skills for Latino young adults with ASD.