Expressed Emotion and Social Development in Mental Retardation

The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between expressed emotion (EE) of key relatives and social development of mentally retarded. 30 children aged between 5-18 years and all 30 children were fulfilling ICD – 10 criteria for mental retardation were taken for the study. One key relative for each mentally retarded children was identified within the age range of 34-45 years. Expressed emotion was assessed by applying Attitude Questionnaire (Sethi et.al, 1985) to the key relatives and social development was assessed by Vineland Social Maturity Scale (Nagpur adaptation) to the mentally retarded children. Age & sex matched control group of 30 normal children and key relatives were chosen from the locality and the same tools were administered. Data were analyzed by using t test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results showed negative correlation between critical comments and emotional over involvement with social quotient. Further it was found that with increasing severity of retardation, social development also decreases.