Relation between working memory and self-regulation capacities and the level of social skills acquisition in people with moderate intellectual disability

Abstract

Background: Social competence deficit is one of the main characteristics of intellectual disability. The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of working memory (WM) and self-regulation (SR) on social skills in persons with moderate intellectual disability (MID). Method: The sample included 41 participants with MID, aged 14-21. Memorizing animals and maze tasks were used for WM assessment. SR skills were assessed by the Behavioral Multitask Batteries. Social skills were rated by the Socialization subscale from the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II, which consists of two parts. Results: Social skills part could mainly be predicted from SR scores (β = −.441), followed by WM (β =.390) and IQ score (β =.382). Only WM score (β =.494) had a predictive value for Leisure time part. Conclusion: As WM had a greater influence on social skills, incorporating WM training into programmes for improving social skills in persons with MID should be considered.