The effectiveness of self-compassion training on social skills, social self-efficacy and social adjustment of students with learning disabilities

Social skills, social self-efficacy, and social adjustment of students with learning disabilities are more difficult than those of normal students. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of self-compassion training on social skills, social self-efficacy and social adjustment of students with learning disabilities.

The present study was performed by quasi-experimental method with pre-test and post-test with two control and experimental groups. The statistical population of the study included students with learning disabilities in Shiraz in 2009-2010. In the first stage, the sample was selected by purposive sampling and after completing the scale of social skills, social self-efficacy and social adjustment, 30 people were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (15 people for each group). The experimental group received 10 sessions of compassion training as a group and the control group did not receive any intervention. The data were analyzed by analysis of covariance.

The results showed that students who received compassion training in themselves, in social skills (p<0.05), social self-efficacy (p<0.05) and social adjustment (p<0.05) compared to the group that received compassion training. They received a higher score than they did not receive.

Therefore, the findings of the study showed that self-compassion training has a positive effect on social skills, social self-efficacy and social adjustment of students with learning disabilities. It is suggested that in the curricula of these children, the necessary content in the field of self-compassion training be provided for educators to teach it to students with learning disabilities.