[Social support of mentally handicapped adults: effects of degree of handicap and type of residential facility].

In a total sample of 141 mentally retarded adults the quality of social relationships was assessed by the newly developed "Interview for Social Support in Mentally Retarded Adults". Severely mentally retarded persons have close and intimate relationships to a consistently lesser extent than mildly retarded persons. This holds also true for the residents of relatively large institutions compared--under control of the degree of mental retardation--to those of small community based facilities. Social support is not related to age and sex.