The Relationship of Social Skills to Psychopathology for Individuals With Mild and Moderate Mental Retardation.

Abstract

Recent advances in the field of mental retardation have included the development of instruments for assessment of both psychopathology and social skills in individuals with mental retardation. Researchers have subsequently begun investigating relationships between psychopathology and social skills in individuals with mental retardation. Initial studies have focused on persons with severe and profound mental retardation. The present study examined the relationship between psychopathology and social skills in individuals with mild and moderate mental retardation. This investigation used the Assessment for Dual Diagnosis (ADD) to measure psychopathology and the Social Performance Survey Schedule (SPSS) to evaluate social skills. Significant differences were observed between groups that were high or low in symptoms of psychopathology. Group patterns of social skills, items which significantly differentiate the groups, and future research implications are discussed.