Parent and Self-Report Ratings on the Perceived Levels of Social Vulnerability of Adults with Williams Syndrome

Abstract

The current study took a multi-informant approach to compare parent to self-report ratings of social vulnerability of adults with Williams syndrome (WS). Participants included 102 pairs of adults with WS and their parents. Parents completed the Social Vulnerability Questionnaire and adults with WS completed an adapted version of the questionnaire. Parents consistently reported higher levels of social vulnerability for their son/daughter than the individual with WS reported, with the exception of emotional abuse. The lower ratings of social vulnerability by adults with WS, compared to their parents, offer new information about their insight into their own vulnerability. These findings highlight the importance of teaching self-awareness as a part of a multi-informant approach to interventions designed to target social vulnerability.

Cross-cultural preliminary validation of a measure of social vulnerability in people with intellectual disabilities

“…In other words, it means that the less an individual needs support in the context of community living and for his or her health and safety, the less (s)he is socially vulnerable. These results are similar to those of Lough and Fisher (2016) who explored the social vulnerability of 102 adults with Williams Syndrome, through both selfreport and parent report. Those who reported greater functional independence, as measured with the Activities of Daily Living [ADL] (Seltzer & Li, 1996) also showed less social vulnerability (as measured with the SVQ).…”

“…vulnerability looks very much like the findings of Lough and Fisher (2016). In their study, self-report of adults with Williams Syndrome and parent reports on social vulnerability were significantly different.…”

“…Intellectual disability is primarily "a disorder of reasoning and judgement" (Greenspan & Woods, 2014). These specific results can explain the difference with the results of Lough and Fisher (2016) who found no correlation between the SVQ total score (or sub-scores) and IQ measured with the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test 2nd ed. (KBIT-2; Kaufman & Kaufman, 2004).…”

“…Confirmatory factor analysis on the SVQ delivered good to excellent fit indices (RMSEA = 0.05, TLI = 0.91, CFI = 0.92) and the differential correlation patterns among the six SVQ factors indicated good discriminant validity within the SVQ (Fisher et al, 2018). Lough and Fisher (2016) also compared results at parent report and self-report of 102 adults (M = 27.83 years; SD = 7.96) with Williams Syndrome [WS] on the SVQ. Compared to self-report, parent's evaluation reported a significantly higher level of social vulnerability.…”

“…Indeed, the TICPV has been used in several research projects with (a) 48 adults with chronic schizophrenia (Nettelbeck & Wilson, 1995); (b) 53 neurotypical children (Nettelbeck & Wilson, 1995); (c) 63 adults with ID (Nettelbeck et al, 2000); (d) 60 adults with ID and 60 neurotypical individuals aged more than 16 years (Murphy & O'Callaghan, 2004). The TICPV also inspired the development of other tools in English (Lough & Fisher, 2016) and has been used or is advised to be used in clinical practice (British Psychological Society, 2006.…”