# MENTALLY RETARDED ADOLESCENTS' STRESS AND COPING

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1994 · $202,411

## Abstract

DESCRIPTION:  (Adapted From The Applicant's Abstract) The general objective
of this proposal is to gather information about adjustment and the
development of maladjustment in adolescents with mild mental retardation to
facilitate severely needed theoretical advancement and clinical efforts.
Specific aims are to:  (a) evaluate change in adjustment, and the
prevalence and incidence of maladjustment over 3 years in volunteer samples
of 14 and 17 year olds with mild mental retardation; b) evaluate and
compare the contribution to their variation in adjustment and development
of maladjustment of different causal models consisting of disability,
intrapersonal, social-ecological, psychosocial stress, and coping
variables; and c) evaluate the utility of an integrative comprehensive
disability-stress-coping conceptual model in explaining adjustment and
development of maladjustment in this population.  Variables to be
investigated in this research were suggested by prior theory and research
on adjustment in the mentally retarded as well as adaptation in the general
population.  The primary conceptual model being investigated integrates
this knowledge with research conducted by the principal investigator on
other handicapped populations.

A prospective longitudinal multivariate design will be used in studying two
age groups (14 and 17) each represented by two birth cohorts.  Up to 280
mildly mentally retarded adolescents will be followed over three yearly
assessments of observed variables related to the above noted conceptual
variables.  Adjustment will be measured over several domains (behavioral
adjustment, social adjustment, and psychiatric symptoms) as reported by
numerous informants (self, parents, teacher, clinician).  Maladjustment
will be defined statistically for these domains.  Measurement procedures
have been selected to be optimally suitable for this population.  They will
be administered to the adolescents themselves, their parents, and school
personnel; in addition, direct observations will be used to measure family
interaction and home environment variables.  Structural equation with
latent variables analysis will primarily be used to address the specific
objectives.

This research will begin to meet the need for any information about the
mental health of adolescents with mental retardation, provide information
useful for prevention and intervention, and strengthen theory relevant to
stress and coping generally particularly as it pertains to handicapped
populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199496
- **Project number:** 5R01HD025310-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** JAN L WALLANDER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $202,411
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-04-01 → 1996-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199496

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199496, MENTALLY RETARDED ADOLESCENTS' STRESS AND COPING (5R01HD025310-04). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199496. Licensed CC0.

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