The Social World of Preadolescents with Mental Retardation: Social Support,Family Environment and Adjustment

Abstract

The social networks, social supports, family environment and adjustment of 36 fifth and sixth grade preadolescents, 15 with mild mental retardation, and 21 without mental retardation were examined. Two interviews with the preadolescents and their families, using a battery of questionnaires, were conducted in the home. Results showed no group differences in the size of preadolescents' social networks. In terms of who they turn to for social support, preadolescents with mild mental retardation were more likely to turn to people in the home and adults outside the home for companionship, while preadolescents without mental retardation turned to peers. Further, the more negative the family environment, the more preadolescents turned to adults outside the home for emotional and problem solving support. Lastly, preadolescents who received greater emotional and problem solving support from people in the home, experienced fewer adjustment problems. The importance of a positive family environment for providing needed emotional support and the implications of the lack of peer companionship for preadolescents with mild mental retardation, as they enter adolescence, is discussed.