THE SOCIAL PROFILE Assessment Tool

The Social Profile is a measure of social participation in activity groups that range from the family, to schools, to clinics, to clubs, cultural groups, sports groups and community groups. It is designed as a developmental sequence of interactive abilities in groups. Based on the work of Parten (1932) and Mosey (1986), the concepts of the five levels used in the Profile consist of Parallel, Associative, Basic Cooperative, Supportive Cooperative and Mature levels of social function. The Social Profile’s purpose reflects the principles of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (2001), Chapters 7 and 9, emphasizing, Interpersonal Interaction and Relationships, and Community, Social and Civic Life as essential to health.

The Social Profile has 40 items, divided into three topics of Activity Participation, Social Interaction and Group Membership/Roles. There are two versions of the Social Profile, the Children’s Version and the Full Life Version. The first three levels of the Full Life Version make up the Children’s Version which has 27 items.

Because groups and individuals may display and incorporate a number of levels in carrying out an activity, the instrument has been described as a Profile, indicating the percentage of time spent at several levels during a session or across a longer period of time within a given activity. Adults participate at a Parallel level in an exercise class, despite their ability to interact at a Mature level during other activities. Activities at times determine the level of group interaction of the individuals in the group. A highly structured AA meeting may only operate at a Basic Cooperative level, whereas some support groups focused on losses may interact at Supportive Cooperative and Mature levels. The major construct of the Social Profile is Cooperation.