Social Communication Disorders and Social Cognitive Strategies and Attitudes in Victims of Child Abuse

This research analyzes social communication disorders, as well as social cognitive strategies and attitudes, in 12–17-year-olds in residential care. The research is carried out in the Residential Childcare Centers of the Region of Extremadura (Spain). The research shows that social communication disorders in victims of child abuse hinder social competence, making opportunities for interaction more difficult. The subjects show deficiencies in the use of communication for social purposes. As for prosocial attitudes, it can be seen that these young people are characterized by a lack of the following: social sensitivity, self-confidence and firmness in their interactions, and leadership. With respect to social cognitive strategies, what stands out is the following: an impulsive cognitive style, independence, a rigidity of ideas, and a tendency towards social distrust and suspicion. Furthermore, it is in the strategies for solving social problems that the greatest difficulties can be appreciated. The research stresses the need for the design of individual and group intervention plans focusing on the main difficulties observed.