Relationship of IQ, adaptive behavior, age, and environmental demand to community-placement success of mentally retarded adults.

Successfully and unsuccessfully placed mentally retarded adults were compared on the basis of IQ, age, Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) Factors 1, 2 and 3, and the ranking of program-setting demands. The ABS Factor 2 (Social Maladaptation), which is composed of behavior that challenges staff members' authority or threatens the health/safety of staff members or other clients, was the only measure that distinguished the groups. Successfully placed subjects exhibited lower levels of Social Maladaptation, suggesting that in order to improve chances for successful community placement, institution and community staff members should concentrate their efforts either on the reduction of socially maladaptive behavior or on the placement of more socially adaptive clients.