Abstract

CARDOZO, Alcides  and  SOARES, Adriana Benevides. The influence of social skills on the involvement of mothers and fathers with their mentally retarded children. Aletheia [online]. 2010, n.31, pp. 39-53. ISSN 1413-0394.

This study aimed to compare and correlate indicators of social skills and the engagement of parents having children with mental retardation. The sample included 27 couples living with their children, with mental retardation. The parents answered the questionnaires “Criterion Brazil”, “Quality of family interaction on parent viewpoint” and “Social Skills Inventory (IHS - Del Prette). There was significant difference in the “Inventory of social skills”; for F1, coping and self-assertion at risk, the average of fathers were higher than those of mothers, and for the F3, conversation and social performance, the averages of the mothers were higher than the average of fathers. Mothers are more involved in children education processes. Correlations were found between care provided to children and also between assertiveness and expression of positive feelings and care for the child. This shows the influence of social skills in engaging parents with their children.

Keywords : Social skills; Parents-children involvement; Mental retardation.

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