Comparison of Social Adjustment between Mothers of Educable Mentally Retarded Girls and Mothers of Normal Girls in Kashan

In this research, comparison of social adjustment in mothers of educable mentally retardedand girls mothers of normal girls has been investigated. The purpose of this study was answer to this questions that whether presence of mentally retarded child has a negative effect on social adjustment of mothers. This research is a case–control and analytical study. 80 mothers (composed of 40 mothers having mentally retarded girls and 40 mothers having normal girls who educated in middle schools) were selected with random sampling. In the present study the weissman & paykel social adjustment scale (1974) was used. This is a semi-structured interview which investigates social adjustment in seven main areas: used work, social and leisure activities, extended family relations, marital relations, parental role, family unit and economic position. The findings showed that there is a significant difference between social adjustment in mothers of mentally retarded and mothers of normal girls (P<0.01). One way ANOVA and correlation showed that there was not significant difference between the demographic variables (child age, mother age, the length of marriage, the education level of mother, number of children the position of the child in the family) and social adjustment of mothers of mentally retarded girls (P<0.01). From the results, we can come up with the point, that the social adjustment of mothers of mentally retarded girls is less than that of mothers of normal girls.