Families of institutionalized mentally retarded persons: their attitudes towards the social integration

Abstract

Before designing and implementing a deinstitutionalization programme for the social integration of patients of the Unit for Mentally Retarded Persons at the Miraflores Psychiatric Hospital in Seville, a descriptive study of the families' attitudes towards integration was carried out. A Likert scale was administered to 112 first- degree relatives, following corresponding validity and reliability tests. Results show that attitude is moderately favourable towards the social integration of mentally retarded persons. Data obtained can help in designing a realistic training programme for the families of the mentally retarded that could help in achieving their progressive deinstitutionalization and social integration.