Enhancing Self-Determination and Working Memory in Individuals with Visual Impairments: Efficacy of Social Skills Training

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social skills training on enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments.A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving ۴۰ participants with visual impairments, randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = ۲۰) and a control group (n = ۲۰). The intervention group underwent ten ۶۰-minute sessions of social skills training over four months, while the control group received no specific intervention. Self-determination was assessed using the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI), and working memory was measured using the Working Memory Questionnaire (WMQ). Data were collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a four-month follow-up. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were conducted using SPSS version ۲۷. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in self-determination from pre-intervention (M = ۴۵.۲۵, SD = ۶.۳۴) to post-intervention (M = ۵۸.۴۳, SD = ۵.۲۷) and at the four-month follow-up (M = ۵۵.۳۷, SD = ۵.۸۲). Similarly, working memory scores improved from pre-intervention (M = ۳۹.۱۸, SD = ۷.۲۴) to post-intervention (M = ۵۱.۲۲, SD = ۶.۰۵) and were maintained at follow-up (M = ۴۸.۷۶, SD = ۶.۵۰). The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects for self-determination (F(۲, ۷۶) = ۴۱.۵۲, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۵۳) and working memory (F(۲, ۷۶) = ۳۸.۱۹, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۵۰), as well as significant time x group interaction effects (self-determination: F(۲, ۷۶) = ۳۲.۳۵, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۴۶; working memory: F(۲, ۷۶) = ۳۱.۸۸, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۴۵). The findings demonstrate that social skills training is significantly effective in enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. These improvements were sustained over a four-month follow-up period, suggesting the potential of such interventions to positively impact cognitive and social functioning in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social skills training on enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving ۴۰ participants with visual impairments, randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = ۲۰) and a control group (n = ۲۰). The intervention group underwent ten ۶۰-minute sessions of social skills training over four months, while the control group received no specific intervention. Self-determination was assessed using the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI), and working memory was measured using the Working Memory Questionnaire (WMQ). Data were collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a four-month follow-up. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were conducted using SPSS version ۲۷. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in self-determination from pre-intervention (M = ۴۵.۲۵, SD = ۶.۳۴) to post-intervention (M = ۵۸.۴۳, SD = ۵.۲۷) and at the four-month follow-up (M = ۵۵.۳۷, SD = ۵.۸۲). Similarly, working memory scores improved from pre-intervention (M = ۳۹.۱۸, SD = ۷.۲۴) to post-intervention (M = ۵۱.۲۲, SD = ۶.۰۵) and were maintained at follow-up (M = ۴۸.۷۶, SD = ۶.۵۰). The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects for self-determination (F(۲, ۷۶) = ۴۱.۵۲, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۵۳) and working memory (F(۲, ۷۶) = ۳۸.۱۹, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۵۰), as well as significant time x group interaction effects (self-determination: F(۲, ۷۶) = ۳۲.۳۵, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۴۶; working memory: F(۲, ۷۶) = ۳۱.۸۸, p < .۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۴۵). The findings demonstrate that social skills training is significantly effective in enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. These improvements were sustained over a four-month follow-up period, suggesting the potential of such interventions to positively impact cognitive and social functioning in this population.

کلیدواژه ها:

Self-Determination ، Working Memory ، Social Skills Training ، Visual Impairments ، Cognitive Training ، Randomized Controlled Trial ، Rehabilitation