Internal and external attributions for levels of perceived physical competence in children with mental retardation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selec tion of internal attributional statements and perceived physical competence in children with mental retardation (MR). Eighty-six children with MR were surveyed and results demonstrated that internal attributional statements w ere chosen more often by older as opposed to younger children. These result s are consistent with studies conducted on peers without disabilities where internal attributions increase with age. Gender differences were also anal yzed in the selection of internal statements as well as the existence of a self-serving bias. Self-serving biases were not found in either gender rela tive to selection of internal versus external attributions for competence. In general, children with MR tended to select a large proportion of externa l rationales for competent outcomes that may impact negatively on self-este em. The results support that children with MR may display an external attri butional profile that can potentially hinder achievement related to physica l activity.