Effects of social and environmental change on institutionalized mentally retarded persons: the relocation syndrome reconsidered.

The "relocation syndrome" in multiply-handicapped, institutionalized mentally retarded residents was examined in an observational study. Weight change and the initiation and duration of constructive and nonconstructive behavior was observed, as well as resident-staff interactions before and after relocation to a new living unit. The hypothesis that there would be an increase in behavior deleterious to the health of clients after relocation, when compared to two premove baseline periods of crowding, was not totally supported. Although relocation did cause significant changes in a variety of behaviors, not all were deleterious (i.e., no mortalities, weight gains). Results were discussed in terms of a social-situational model.