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The importance of social comparison in the development of understanding of self is well recognized in typically developing individuals but has been relatively neglected in the examination of constructs related to selfunderstanding in individuals with an intellectual disability. Social comparison has also been found to be associated with depressed mood, something to which individuals with Down syndrome may be prone. Using an interview procedure, 40 individuals (aged between 12 and 51 years) with Down syndrome completed a range of adapted questionnaires related to social comparison, selfconcept, and mood. The data from 34 participants were included in analyses as others were judged to be responding acquiescently and thus excluded. Parents also completed a questionnaire about mood and provided information about the social engagement of their daughter or son. Social comparison was correlated positively with self-concept, and negatively with mood. There was a signifi cant negative correlation between social engagement and social comparison with those who were more active in their communities reporting more negative social comparisons. The implications of these fi ndings are explored and the diffi culty of measuring these self-related constructs in individuals with an intellectual disability are discussed.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Down syndrome, social comparison, self-concept, depression, social engagement, measurement
Research Division:	Education
Research Group:	Specialist studies in education
Research Field:	Special education and disability
Objective Division:	Law, Politics and Community Services
Objective Group:	Community services
Objective Field:	Ability and disability
UTAS Author:	Cuskelly, M (Professor Monica Cuskelly)
ID Code:	126520
Year Published:	2011
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2018-06-15
Last Modified:	2018-08-16
Downloads:	6 View Download Statistics