Dimensions of social competence in a population of adults with mental handicap

Abstract

When scores across 29 of the 36 areas of personal and social skill on the Pathways to Independence checklist were analysed, a multidimensional structure with one large factor, personal independence, emerged. Results suggest that, as some basic skills were loaded on single factors, and more complex skills emerged as conglomerates, two types of competence were apparent. Implications for the provision of functional teaching strategies in natural settings are discussed. Replication among other client groups is proposed. The usefulness of social competence measures in ascertaining intellectual development as well as adaptive functioning should be tested in future studies.