Self-esteem in mentally retarded adults

McFadyen, Shirley S.; McFadyen, Shirley S.

Paper

Self-esteem in mentally retarded adults

Public Deposited

Analytics

Creator

McFadyen, Shirley S.

Contributors

Ross, Verity (Supervisor)

Abstract

English

This study was designed to determine the level of self-esteem in a sample of mentally retarded adults and to assess the relationship between self-esteem and their behaviour as observed in a sheltered workshop setting. The sample was drawn from three sheltered workshops operated by the Montreal Association for the Mentally Retarded. Modified versions of Coopersmith's Self Esteem Inventory as completed by the subjects, and of his Behaviour Rating Form as completed by subject's workshop instructors; subjects responses to open-ended questions in an Interview Schedule; and the Association's individual files provided the research data. Analysis of the data for the total sample revealed that subjects' self-esteem levels, as indicated by S.E.I. scores, ranged from extremely low to extremely high, thereby questioning the assertion of some authorities that low self-esteem is characteristic of the retarded. No significant relationship was found between self-esteem level and behaviour as observed in the workshop. Subjects over twenty-five years of age who had attended the workshops for over nine years had a significantly higher self-esteem level than younger subjects who had not attended as long. Subjects' attitudes were fairly consistent across the four categories of work, family, social relationships and activities and self. The seven S.E.I. items found to be characteristic of the sample included: I'm easy to like, I'm a lot of fun to be with, I'm proud of my work, I'm popular with people of my own age, I'm doing the best work I can, I can usually take care of myself and I really do like being a man/woman. High and Low Self-Esteem subjects did not differ significantly in any of the major variables except I.Q., the mean of which was significantly lower in the former group. Of the twenty S.E.I. items characteristic of each group, all were positive for the High Self Esteem group while only thirteen were positive for the Low Self-Esteem group. This result was compatible with responses to open-ended questions in the Interview Schedule, whereby the Low Self-Esteem group indicated less satisfaction with work and family relationships, fewer friends, and more negative attitudes with regard to physical characteristics and personality traits than the High Self-Esteem group. Research findings imply that social work intervention is needed to maintain the retarded person's self-esteem in the transition from sheltered workshop to competitive employment, and to increase the retardate's self-esteem level when this appears to be a factor contributing to problematic behaviour within the workshop.

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