Social schemas linkages with social information processing: similarities found for youth with mild intellectual disability, borderline IQ, and average IQ

Introduction: Negative social schemas (SS) about the world and the self are found to link with social information processing (SIP) of new situations. If and how SS and SIP associate for youth with mild intellectual disability (MID: IQ50–70), borderline intelligence (BIQ:71–84), and average intelligence (AIQ≥85) is however unclear. Similarities and differences in these linkages were examined for youth with MID compared to peers. Methods: 232 13-to-17-year-olds participated (M=15.2SD=1.33,54% male). Wechsler’s scales of intelligence measured IQ (Wechsler,1949;1955). SS were assessed with the Youth Personality Inventory-Mistrust scale (Luteijn et al., 2005), Childhood Narcissism-scale (Thomaes et al., 2008), and Sensitivity to Disrespect-scale (MacDonald,2008). Videos with social problem situations assessed SIP-steps: intent attribution, response-generation, self-efficacy for aggression. Results: For all youth, higher mistrust related to higher self-efficacy for aggression. Sensitivity to disrespect linked with higher hostile intent attribution. Narcissism characteristics associated with higher hostile intent attribution and self-efficacy for aggression. Relations between SS and SIP were found above and beyond influences of IQ on SIP and were similar across IQ-groups. Implications: These results provide insight in similar cognitive processes from SS to SIP in youth with MID compared with their peers. Future cognitive-behavioural treatments may include this knowledge on similar cognitive processes instead of focusing on differences when treating youth with MID. Keywords: Social cognitive schemas, Social information processing, Mild intellectual disability, Borderline intelligence