Dykens E M, Cohen D J
Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT.
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996 Feb;35(2):223-9. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199602000-00016.
To evaluate the social and emotional goals of Special Olympics International, specifically whether Special Olympics facilitates social competence and self-esteem in persons with mental retardation.
Findings were "triangulated" across three studies on the social competence, adaptation, and self-perceptions of 104 athletes from 1993 Team USA (mean age = 22 years; mean IQ = 59). Study 1 related behavior to athletes' length of time in Special Olympics. Study 2 compared Team USA to an appropriately matched group of non-Special Olympians. Study 3 assessed Team USA before and 4 months after their participation in the World Games held in Salzburg, Austria.
Relative to age and IQ, length of time in Special Olympics was the most powerful predictor of social competence. Special Olympics athletes had higher social competence scores and more positive self-perceptions than the comparison group. Team USA's behavioral data remained stable over time, suggesting that high pre-Game scores were not simply a function of parental or athlete pre-Game excitement.
Based on the most conservative meaning of triangulation, more support was found linking Special Olympics to social competence than to remaining behavioral domains.
评估国际特殊奥林匹克运动会的社会和情感目标，特别是特殊奥运会是否能促进智力障碍者的社会能力和自尊。
对1993年美国队的104名运动员（平均年龄 = 22岁；平均智商 = 59）的社会能力、适应性和自我认知进行了三项研究，研究结果进行了“三角验证”。研究1将行为与运动员参加特殊奥运会的时间长度相关联。研究2将美国队与一组匹配的非特殊奥运会运动员进行了比较。研究3评估了美国队在参加奥地利萨尔茨堡世界运动会之前和之后4个月的情况。
相对于年龄和智商，参加特殊奥运会的时间长度是社会能力最有力的预测因素。特殊奥运会运动员的社会能力得分更高，自我认知更积极，高于对照组。美国队的行为数据随时间保持稳定，这表明赛前的高分不仅仅是父母或运动员赛前兴奋的结果。
基于三角验证最保守的含义，发现更多证据表明特殊奥运会与社会能力相关，而非与其他行为领域相关。
