Assessment of the perceived school loneliness and isolation of mentally retarded and nonretarded students.

Research indicates that mentally retarded students are often socially rejected or neglected by peers, which may result in students feeling lonely or isolated. Perceived school loneliness and isolation of mainstreamed retarded students and their nonretarded peers was assessed using a 5-point, Likert-type loneliness scale. Retarded students reported significantly more loneliness and isolation than did their nonretarded counterparts. Findings suggest that mainstreaming by itself does not eliminate loneliness and other adverse effects of social isolation. Results were discussed in terms of social metacognition theory and possible intervention needed to remediate the loneliness of retarded students.