Difficulties in relationships between nonhandicapped and severely mentally retarded children: the effect of physical impairments.

Difficulties in relationships between nonhandicapped and severely mentally retarded children (ages 8-12) were examined as a function of the presence or absence of additional physical handicapping conditions. Two sets of data, involving multiple codes of both the handicapped and nonhandicapped children's behavior, were analyzed and aggregated to address this issue. Findings suggested that nonhandicapped children work harder, receive and emit fewer social reinforcers, have less opportunity to play and have fun, and achieve lower levels of social play when their playmate is physically handicapped as well as severely mentally retarded. Implications for the longevity of social relationships with and the community survival of severely multiply handicapped persons are discussed. Strategies for increasing the reinforcement potential of relationships with multiply handicapped children are proposed for future research and implementation.