THE PERCEPTION OF LONELINESS BY ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE MILDLY MENTALLY RETARDED.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 143
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The subjective distress of loneliness has been associated with significant physical, emotional, and social problems. Adolescents, particularly those with mental retardation, are at risk for the development of loneliness. The purpose of this study was to describe the perception of loneliness by adolescents who are mildly mentally retarded. The conceptual framework incorporated the human need for intimacy as applied to loneliness by Weiss (1973), the cognitive discrepancy approach as described by Peplau, Miceli, and Morasch, (1982), and the concepts of developmental stage and perception.

A nonexperimental design that combined quantitative and qualitative methodology was used to collect data from 30 adolescent subjects who are mildly mentally retarded. Three research instruments, the Illinois-Chicago Informant Rating Scale for Social Support, selected items from the Functional Wellness Inventory, and the loneliness rating scale, were administered to the subjects who were then interviewed. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.

Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients demonstrated a positive relationship between the subjects' scores on the loneliness rating scale and the other instruments. Content analysis of the interview data revealed that differences related to interpersonal relationships exist between lonely and nonlonely adolescents who are mildly mentally retarded. The differences occur in statements describing self-attributes, facilitation of peer interaction, obstacles to peer interactions, and social networks.

Recommendations based on the study findings include identifying the lonely adolescent who is mentally retarded and referring for individualized interventions. Other recommendations focus on increasing the socialization experiences and community integration of the adolescent who is mildly mentally retarded. Modifications for study replications are also recommended.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-09, Section: B, page: 3919.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1989.

School code: 0005.