Social Relations

Review of Social Relations and Self-Esteem of Children with Learning Disabilities

Saint Leo University

Abstract

In today’s society there is an increase in children with learning disabilities. There have been studies done to show how peers and adults perceive children with learning disabilities, how they choose friends, and their social status. There have also been studies to show how children with a learning disability perceive themselves.

INTRODUCTION

Learning disabilities is a “disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, write, spell or do mathematical calculations” (Harway, 1979) Children with learning disabilities (LD) learn and develop through their interactions with society and through the environment. This article is taking into account their concepts of themselves and others, their understanding of relations with others, and actual social interactions. Any approach to understanding and helping them would be more successful if it also took into account their concepts of self and others, their understanding of relations with others, and their social interactions.

Contemporary research on social relations of children with learning disabilities provides information on peer and adult perception, their friendship choices, and the factors that determine their social status.

Sociometric studies have shown them to be less popular with their peers as compared to children without a learning disability. Studies have shown that children chose non-LD children as co-workers and playmates significantly more often German children were significantly more negative when asked about their willingness to attend a school for children with learning disabilities whom they described as stupid and not adjusted (Harway, 1979).

Parents of children with a learning disability perceive them as less acceptable and more disturbed...