Relationship between dimensions of adaptive behavior and sheltered workshop productivity.

A factor analysis was performed on the 24 domains of the AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale using a sample of 217 adult retarded workshop clients. Of the seven dimensions found to describe adaptive behavior, Personal Independence, Social Maladaptation, and Personal Maladaptation accounted for the majority of variance in the factor matrix. Scores on each of the seven factors were obtained for all clients and used to predict productivity in a workshop setting as defined by average hourly salary for the time period in which the scale was administered. A stepwise regression analysis yielded a highly significant regression effect in which the factors of Personal Independence and Social Maladaptation accounted for 25% of the variance in salary and had a multiple correlation coefficient of .50 with the predicted variable. We concluded that adaptive behavior is a multidimensional variable, significantly affecting productivity in sheltered workshop settings.