Acceptance of mental retardation and help-seeking by mothers and fathers of children with mental retardation.

Help-seeking preferences of parents of children with mental retardation were examined. A specially constructed Acceptance of Retardation Scale was administered to 25 fathers and 25 mothers. Respondents were asked to consider a number of need situations associated with their child's retardation and rate the likelihood that they would try to help themselves or seek external help from various sources. Results showed that mothers and fathers may have different help-seeking patterns. The fathers' help-seeking behavior seems to be instrumental, whereas mothers seem to be affected by ego considerations. Several demographic correlates of help-seeking behavior were also collected. Implications were discussed.