Predicting Social Adjustment based on Metacognitive Beliefs, Alexithymia and Empathy in Students with Specific Learning Disabilities

Students with specific learning disorder have adaptation problems due to lack of favorable social relationships and numerous academic problems. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of predicting social adjustment based on metacognitive beliefs, alexithymia and empathy in students with special learning disabilities. In this descriptive and correlational study, 116 student were selected as a purposeful sample from all male and female students aged 10 to 14 years with specific learning disorder in Tabriz in 2019- 2020. Bell Social Adjustment Questionnaire, Wells Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Jolliffe & Farrington Empathy Scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by Pearson test and regression analysis. The results showed that social adjustment of students with specific learning disabilities had a positive and significant relationship and empathy and with metacognitive beliefs and alexithymia had a negative and significant relationship (p> 0.01). Metacognitive beliefs, alexithymia and empathy predicted 58% of the variance of social adjustment scores in students with specific learning disabilities (P <0.01). Considering the adverse consequences of learning disability and its widespread effects on the child's individual and social life, it is suggested that programs be implemented to promote appropriate metacognitive emotions and beliefs and to develop empathy among students with learning disabilities.