RESUMO
Objective:To explore the influence of sub-threshold autistic traits on social avoidance and distress of senior high school freshmen, as well as the mediating effect of perspective taking, and to investigate the intervention effect of perspective taking intervention project on improving the ability of perspective taking and reducing social avoidance and distress behavior of high sub-threshold autistic traits individuals.Methods:A total of 1 401 subjects were investigated with the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ), interpersonal reactivity index-C (IRI-C) and social avoidance and distress (SAD) from September 1st to September 30th, 2018. According to the screening criteria of 27% statistically, totally 378 subjects were selected according to the scores of autistic spectrum quotient scale from high to low as the high sub-threshold autistic traits group. The top 32 subjects with high scores of autistic spectrum quotient scale were selected and randomly divided into intervention group and control group with 16 subjects in each group. The modified viewpoint selection group counseling program was used to conduct intervention research on 16 subjects with high sub-threshold autistic traits. SPSS 26.0 was used for common method deviation test, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and repeated measurement variance analysis, and SPSS 26.0 PROCESS plug-in was used for intermediary effect analysis.Results:(1) The scores of sub-threshold autistic traits, perspective taking, social avoidance and distress of freshmen in senior high school were (113.26±11.35), (12.34±3.95) and (10.84±6.42) respectively. (2) Sub-threshold autistic traits, perspective taking, social avoidance and distress were significantly correlated with each other( r=-0.11-0.52, all P<0.01). (3) Sub-threshold autistic traits had a significant direct effect on social avoidance and distress, with a direct effect value of 0.28, accounting for 96.55% of the total effect.The total indirect effect of perspective taking on social avoidance and distress was significant, with the total indirect effect value of 0.01, accounting for 3.45% of the total effect. (4) In the intervention group, the perspective taking score of the post-test (15.69±3.86) was significantly higher than that of the pre-test (10.56±4.18) ( P<0.01). In the control group, there was no significant difference in the scores of perspective taking before and after the test((10.63±3.69), (11.44±3.03)) ( P>0.05). (5) In the intervention group, the scores of social avoidance and distress in the post-test (6.38±5.01) were significantly lower than that in the pre-test (15.00±6.07) ( P<0.001). In the control group, the score of social avoidance and distress in the post-test (15.81±6.33) was lower than that in the pre-test (19.00 ±5.38) ( P<0.05), but the scores of social avoidance and distress in the intervention group decreased even more. Conclusion:Perspective taking plays an mediating role between sub-threshold autistic traits and social avoidance and distress. Group counseling based on perspective taking was helpful to improve the perspective taking ability of people with high sub-threshold autistic traits and reduce social avoidance and distress behaviors.