ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSACTIONS OF MENTALLY RETARDED ADULTS AS A MEASURE OF COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT.

Abstract

The environmental transactions of mentally retarded adults were investigated in three community-based programs as a measure of client adjustment to community living. Specific features of the interaction between clients and the physical and social environment were identified and evaluated. The research settings and subjects were: a group home (7 clients/4 staff); a semi-independent apartment setting (13 clients/4 staff); and a work adjustment program (11 clients/5 staff). Methodological procedures were: observational procedures, including the Community Interaction Assessment instrument, a form of behavior mapping which emphasized social interaction, and the Bales Interaction Process Analysis, an observational technique for structured groups; the structured questionnaires which make up the Moos Multiphasic Environmental Assessment Procedure (MEAP); and unstructured observations and interviews, used as procedures in the various settings in the larger community. Results were presented in terms of the particular features of the physical and social environment which were related to the incidence of social interaction. Rank order correlations of the MEAP residential and staff data revealed a significant positive relationship among all three settings, indicating similarities across all research settings in staff and resident characteristics. A significant positive correlation was also found in the group home and apartment environmental evaluations, indicating strong similarities in staff attitudes in the two residential settings. An analysis of variance indicated a significant difference in the MEAP policy data obtained for the three settings, suggesting important differences primarily in the areas of policy choice, resident control, and provision for privacy. Normative data was presented for the residential programs based on MEAP findings. Results were discussed in terms of the implications of findings for design, program, and community integration issues and suggestions for future research were presented.