Public attitudes toward mentally retarded children

The recent trend toward integrating mentally retarded children in the community and public school warrants examination of public attitudes toward these children. Factor analysis of questionnaire responses of 430 adults revealed four factors underlying attitudes toward retarded children: positive stereotype, segregation in the community, segregation in the classroom, and perceived physical and intellectual handicap. Older respondents, parents of school aged children, and people with no previous contact with a retarded person tended to favor segregation of retarded children in the community. Results of this study suggest that attitudes of these groups must be addressed if retarded persons are to be successfully integrated into society.