Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340, Volume 10, Number 10 (2023): 1-7 © Arya PG College (College with Potential for Excellence Status by UGC) & Business Press India Publication, Delhi http://apcjournals.com, www.aryapgcollege.ac.in

A Review Study on Attitudes of Parents Towards Mentally Retarded Children

Mamta
Associate Professor
Department of Home Science
Government College for Women, Karnal
(Haryana), India
Email: mamtakamalsingh@gmail.com

Abstract
In this review paper studies related to attitude of parents towards their mentally retarded children are presented. Most of the studies revealed that parents who possessed positive attitudes want home/ institutionalized care for their mentally retarded children and especially mothers have more positive attitudes as compared to father. Siblings, other family members and to some extent society have negative attitudes. So, it can be said that positive attitudes of parents may help their children to lead better life.
Keywords: Mentally Retarded Children, Attitude, Care, Siblings, Institutionalized Parents.

Introduction
Mental Retardation is incomplete mental development and person or child is not able to demonstrate age-appropriate behaviour. Parenting a child with mental retardation is not an easy job (Peshawaria 1992). If parents have knowledge about this condition or fact, then it may help to develop positive attitudes towards their mentally retarded children. So, there is need to study parental attitudes towards their children.
Mental retardation cannot be removed but the condition of child can be improved if parents possess favorable attitudes towards their child. Parent's attitude towards their child is influenced by number of factors like the parents themselves, the family environment and the child (Runchi 1995).
Biswas (1980) conducted the study to investigate the attitude of parents in punishing the child. It was found that in the case mentally retarded children, 58.67 per cent admitted that punishment was given so often and 20 per cent admitted of doing so some times and only 21.33 per cent denied reporting to punishment. But in case of normal children, 69.33 per cent had been found not to be in favor of punishing child.
Balda (1982) reported that parents of all time handicapped children had favorable attitudes as the study was conducted on institutionalized parents.
Christine (1989) interviewed 131 parents of children (aged 3-29 years) enrolled in 6 Australian schools for intellectually disabled persons to identify the major parameters within which attitudes of professionals were perceived by parents; Responses, both positive and negative fell into 4 categories- helpfulness, professional interest, consideration and respect and professional commitment. Implications for professional parents’ interactions were considered.
Dhillon and Chaudhari (1990) compared the attitudes of parents of normal and mentally retarded children, teachers of both groups and doctors found that parents of retarded children hold a slightly more positive view of the retarded than parents of normal children. Whereas who had regular contact with the retarded children like doctors and teachers, had slightly more favourable attitudes than those who did not show regular contact with retarded children.
Rajagopal et. al. (1992) studied the perception of college students of working and living with mental retardation persons and data analysis indicated statistically significant positive change of attitude, establishing the fact that even more contact could pave the way for a better understanding the problems of mentally retarded persons and had favourable attitude.
Narayan (1993) found that presence of the mentally retarded child had a negative impact on their family relationship and parents have more or less negative attitude towards mentally retarded child.
Geetha and Bhaskar (1993) examined the attitude of parents and other family members towards their retarded children and investigated the general temperament of parents of the retarded as well as normal children. It was observed that in both the cases of children, their parents were disciplinarians. It was interesting to note that on the issue of attitudes of parents for punishing the child, 20 per cent admitted of punishing them rarely. Study also observed that attitudes of mothers had been found to be generally of overprotection for the retarded child than in the case of normal child and also found that the siblings of the retarded child had negative attitude due to superiority complex built in those normal children.
Ramgopal and Madhu (1994) assessed the behaviour disorders in moderately mentally retarded children and their relation to parental attitude. Sample size included the father or mother of 60 children (Indian) of moderately mentally retarded boys and girls aged 8-12 years, who completed a parent rating scale and parental attitude scale towards mental retardation. Findings on the parental attitude scale showed that parents had a negative attitude towards the moderately mentally retarded children.
Rangaswami (1995) examined the attitude of mothers towards their mentally retarded (MR) children, with and without behaviour problems of 40 mothers (20-45 years old), 20 had children without behaviour problems and 20 had children with behaviour problems. Children’s self-destructive tendencies, conflict, anxiety fighting and delinquency were assessed, using the inventory for screening child psychiatric impairment; and mother’s attitude towards their MR children were judged in terms of acceptance, education and future, home management and hostility, by the parental attitudes towards problem children scale. The overall attitude of mothers of MR children with and without behaviour problems differed significantly.
Goswami (2013) studied the parental attitudes of mentally retarded children in Kolkata. The study revealed above 50 per cent have showed favourable attitudes. As the problem was not a biological, social worker should play a significant role in solving this social problem.
Mythili et. al. (2017) attempted to explore the attitudes of parents towards their mentally retarded children. The sample consisted of 66 parents of children with intellectual developmental disorders (IDD) receiving mental health services from the daycare centers. An attitude questionnaire was administered on the parents who were involved in the care and rehabilitation of the child. The questionnaire comprised of fifty statements of a Likert-type scale and it served as the measuring instrument. Questions were designed to provide information on parents’ behaviour perception, reaction, values and feelings. The important themes that emerged out of the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that the parents; though had love and acceptance towards their children but were frustrated, disappointed and highly overprotective. This was a significant deterrent factor in the child’s adaptive functioning and development of his/her independent living skills.
Solomon and Nirmala (2020) assessed the parental attitudes on mental retardation towards their child at selected Deepam special school of mentally retarded, Kilpauk. Quantitative approach with cross sectional study research design was chosen to assess the attitude of the parents towards mental retardation. The information was collected using semi structured interview questionnaire. Most of them 39 (65%) had moderately favourable attitudes, 20 (33.33%) had unfavourable attitudes and only one (1.67%) had favourable attitude towards their mentally retarded children.
Conclusion
Studies revealed that people especially parents (fathers) & society have negative attitude and those who have positive attitude tried to give better facilities to their children.
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