THE SOCIAL WORLD OF PREADOLESCENTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION - SOCIAL SUPPORT, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND ADJUSTMENT

The social networks, social supports, family environment and adjustmen t of 36 fifth and sixth grade preadolescents, 15 with mild mental reta rdation, and 21 without mental retardation were examined. Two intervie ws with the preadolescents and their families, using a battery of ques tionnaires, were conducted in the home. Results showed no group differ ences in the size of preadolescents' social networks. In terms of who they turn to for social support, preadolescents with mild mental retar dation were more likely to turn to people in the home and adults outsi de the home for companionship, while preadolescents without mental ret ardation turned to peers. Further, the more negative the family enviro nment, the more preadolescents turned to adults outside the home for e motional and problem solving support. lastly, preadolescents who recei ved greater emotional and problem solving support from people in the h ome, experienced fewer adjustment problems. The importance of a positi ve family environment for providing needed emotional support and the i mplications of the lack of peer companionship for preadolescents with mild mental retardation, as they enter adolescence, is discussed.