Self-esteem in young adults with mild mental retardation

Abstract

This study investigated self esteem among adults with mild mental retardation (MMR). Utilizing data from Richardson' s 1980 follow-up study, an assessment of self esteem which was comparable for MMR adults and adults who do not have mild mental retardation was developed. A summative, composite score and subscores within the content areas of school, job, and social functioning were created. Clinical rating of self esteem, was also performed and reliability and validity analysis suggested that both measures performed acceptably.;The self esteem of three groups were compared: 104 young adults who had been administratively identified as having mild mental retardation (MMR group), 139 Comparisons who did not have mental retardation, and twenty eight adults who had never been in special school but whose IQ's fell within the mildly retarded range (Borderline group). Results demonstrated that self esteem was significantly lower among the MMR as compared to the Comparisons, as measured by both the composite scale (p {dollar}<{dollar}.001) and clinical rating (p {dollar}<{dollar}.001). The Borderline group's self esteem scores fell between the Comparison and MMR.;Investigation of the relationships among life experience factors, personal characteristics and self esteem within the MMR group, resulted in the following findings: males and females were not significantly different on self esteem; married adults had significantly higher self esteem than singles (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05); adults with no social interaction had significantly lower self esteem than those with some interaction (p {dollar}<{dollar}.005); behavior disturbance factors were significantly correlated with lower self esteem (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05); instability of family of upbringing was significantly related to low self esteem (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05); last school attended and job skill were not significantly related to self esteem in adulthood, and rate of unemployment was significantly correlated with self esteem (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05).;Multiple Regression with life experience variables and personal characteristics on self esteem in the MMR group resulted in the following variables remaining in the final equation: Peer interaction (p {dollar}<{dollar}.001), Marital status (p {dollar}<{dollar}.01), and evidence of Aggressive behavior in adulthood (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05).;Implications of the developed measure method and self esteem comparisons among the study groups are discussed.