CULTURAL-FACTORS ENHANCING RESILIENCE AND PROTECTING AGAINST MALADJUSTMENT IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS WITH MILD MENTAL-RETARDATION

Researchers have found elevated risk for maladjustment associated with being an African American adolescent in an urban environment as well as being an individual with mental retardation. The culturally relevan t factors of ethnic identification, intergenerational support, and chu rch support were investigated in relation to high risk exposure on mal adjustment in 147 urban African American adolescents enrolled in EMR s pecial education classes. Maladjustment was measured with both self-an d parent-report. Risk exposure was measured in the personal, social, a nd community domains. Results indicate that presence of cultural facto rs were associated with better adjustment generally. Furthermore, ethn ic identification appeared to protect adolescents exposed to high-risk conditions against experiencing significantly elevated maladjustment. Implications of culture on intervention and prevention were discussed .