Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue: 1

Personal Experiences of Adolescents with Mild Mental Retardation

  • Author:
  • Mridul K. Jagota1, Bangalore N. Roopesh2,
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 52 to 59

1Consultant Clinical Psychologist, CIMBS, New Delhi, India

2Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India

*Corresponding author: Roopesh BN, 311, 3rd Floor, Dr. M.V. Govindaswamy Building, Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru-560029, India., Email: bn.roopesh@gmail.com

Online published on 13 January, 2020.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the personal experiences among adolescents with Mild Mental Retardation (MMR). The sample comprised of 19 MMR and 19 Typically Developing Adolescents (TDA) within the age range of 12–16 years. Both the group were group-matched for age, gender and socioeconomic status. Measures used were Binet-Kamat Test of Intelligence (Kamath, 1964) and a semi-structured interview schedule to assess their experience in day to day life, such as peer relationship, perceived stigma/discrimination. Descriptive (mean and standard deviation), Chi-square, and qualitative analysis were carried for the study variables. Results showed that 58% of MMR group reported feeling discriminated and 37% of them reported as feeling different from their peer group. However, adolescents in the MMR group expressed having peer group with whom they enjoy, are loved, cared and understood by others. It reflects that irrespective of the intellectual capacity, peer group and peer support play a dominant role in children/adolescents life in providing dignity as well as respect.

Keywords

Adolescents, Mild Mental Retardation, Perceived Stigma, Perceived Discrimination, Personal Experiences