Perception of Group Relationships as a Factor of Adaptation to University in Students with Disabilities

The paper addresses the issue of adaptation to university life in first-year students with disabilities. It reviews various research data on the factors contributing to adaptation and maladaptation in students with various health conditions and analyses the outcomes of a research on basic social psychological factors of adaptation in the disabled students. The research defines the level of adaptation and two groups of factors: personality factors and social perception. The paper describes the personality traits that promote successful adaptation to university life in the students with disabilities and shows how their perception of intragroup relationships may affect the process of adaptation. The research data obtained in the student groups with high and low levels of adaptation suggests that certain changes in the system of student support during the initial period of their university life would be appropriate.