Taheri M * ¹ (MSc), Tajrishi M ¹ (PhD), Movallali G ¹ (PhD), Rahgozar M ² (PhD), Arshi B ³ (BS)

  ¹ Department of Exceptional Children Psychology, School of Psychology,

  University of welfare & Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran

  ² Department of Statistics, School of Public Health,

  University of welfare & Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran

  ³ Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation,

  University of welfare & Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran

  Received: 14 Apr 2010, Accepted: 30 Jun 2010

  Abstract

Introduction: According to the attachment theory, maternal behavior and maternal reactions toward her child is affected by her attachment style. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal attachment and social maturity of their mentally retarded sons.

Methods: All male mentally retarded students of secondary schools of Shiraz during academic year of 2008-2009 (127 students) were included. The adult attachment style questionnaire (AAS) (1987) was used to assess maternal attachment and Vineland's social test (1965) was used to assess the social maturity of mentally retarded male students. The Spearman correlation and sheffe's method were used for data analyses.

Results: Secure attachment style of mothers had a positive significant correlation with social maturity of mentally-retarded boys of secondary school (p<0.001) while insecure avoidant and insecure ambivalent attachment style of mothers had negative significant correlation with it (p=0.019 and p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Mother's with more secure attachment style have children with higher social maturity and mothers with more insecure attachment style (avoidant and ambivalent), have children with less social maturity.

  Key words: Object Attachment, Attachment Style, Social Maturity, Mentally Disabled Persons

  Hakim Research Journal 2010 13(2): 99- 107.

  * Corresponding Author: No. 395, 25^th Alley, Shahid Keshvari St., Rahmat Boulevard, Shiraz, Tel: +98- 938- 1704608, Fax: +98- 711- 8205856, Email: taheri.taha5@gmail.com