Social competence of minors residing in youth educational centres

The aim of the research presented in the article was to recognize the level and diversity of social competences due to gender, age and length of stay of socially maladjusted youth staying in youth educational centers. The research was carried out using the diagnostic survey method using a standardized tool for testing social competences – the Skills Questionnaire (ART) by A. Goldstein.The research was conducted in 2019 and covered 530 pupils from 12 randomly selected speech-type rehabilitation institutions from Polish. The results obtained indicate that minors rate their social competences highly; they consider the ability to control stress, aggressive behavior and the skills associated with establishing and conducting a conversation to be the most developed. The lowest respondents rated their competences related to asking for help, apologizing, persuading, the ability to cooperate, following orders or providing feedback. There was no statistically significant relationship between the level of social competence and the age and length of stay of minors in speech. A significant variable differentiating social competences turned out to be gender. Girls rate their skills higher than boys.On this basis, recommendations were formulated that should be taken into account in resocialization practice when organizing educational interactions, i.e.: it is considered necessary to develop the social competences of pupils by organizing planned training in social skills outside the rehabilitation institution and independent, autonomous participation of pupils in natural life situations. More space should be left in rehabilitation for the development of youth's communication competences and motivation to cooperate with other people.