The Relationship between assertive social skills and friendship quality of children with disability in Indonesian elementary schools

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between assertive social skills and the friendship quality of children with disability. A total of 84 students from 20 public elementary schools in the city of Jakarta were involved in this study. Data collection used the Social Skills Inventory Scale (SSIS) to measure assertive social skills, while the Friendship Quality Questionnaire (FQQ) was used to get a picture of the friendship quality. The results showed a significant positive relationship between assertive social skills and friendship quality in children (r = .321, p <.01). It was also found that there were differences in the scores of friendship quality between boys and girls in the dimensions of Help and Guide and Companionship and Recreation. For further research it is recommended to use different data collection methods (eg observation, interviews) and to measure the research variables from the viewpoint of significant others (eg teachers, parents). The involvement of participants with various types of disabilities is also recommended.