Enhancing Social Skills and Self-Perceptions of Physically Disabled Young Adults

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of assertiveness training, discussion-support group, and waiting-list control group experiences in enhancing the social skills and self-perceptions of 30 disabled undergraduates. Assertiveness-training subjects improved more than discussion-and-control group subjects in the content of their social responses as judged by "blind" observers on the Behavioral Observation Scale (BOS) (p < .025). Assertiveness subjects also improved more on the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (p < .01). No significant group differences were found on the Acceptance of Disability (AD) or on the Assertion Inventory scores. A strong association (r = .81) was found between judges' ratings of assertiveness on the BOS and subjects' self-ratings on the Rathus (p < .001). Significant correlations were also found between BOS and AD scores and between AD scores and duration of disability (p < .05).

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