This study examined the recreational patterns of 33 individuals with an intellectual handicap. Results of the New Zealand study indicated that the overall profile tended to be similar to the population in general. Some gender differences in activity participation were observed. The role of the New Zealand Society for the Intellectually Handicapped…

A survey of eight motor habits, including body-rocking, was administered to two large samples (N=861, N=766) of college students. A surprisingly high proportion of respondents (over 40% of males and over 50% of females) reported they engaged in body rocking when either bored or overstimulated The similar incidence in people with mental retardation…

Fifteen mentally retarded adults living in group home and intermediate group residences (IGR) were interviewed. All participants spent majority of their time in their homes. Men played a more active role in their integration than did women. IGR men and women went less often into the community and rarely (IGR men) or never (IGR women) went out…

The characteristics of a group of 17 mentally retarded institutionalized individuals (ages 6 to 51) with self-injurious behavior (SIB) were compared with those of 14 patients without SIB. Among findings were that 65 percent of the SIB group were females, that the SIB group had an elevated pulse rate, and that they slept less. (PHR)

The study involving 12 severely retarded adults (five males and seven females) was conducted to determine the effect of music on the body-rocking manifested by Ss in their ward environments.(SBH)

Children with mental retardation (n=32) and their younger nonretarded siblings were observed interacting in the home setting. Interactions were characterized by accentuated role asymmetries that favored the younger sibling. Competence of the mentally retarded child reliably predicted sibling role asymmetries. Gender differences in roles and…

The Devereux Adolescent Behavior Rating Scale was used to investigate the effects of age and sex on the classroom behavior of 294 educationally handicapped adolescents. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the five age groups (12, 13, 14, 15, 16 years) were significantly different on one behavioral scale (heterosexual interest). Analysis…

Mothers of 137 children (with or without a sibling having Down's syndrome) were interviewed regarding their child without Down's syndrome. There were no significant differences between groups regarding expectations of "typical" children, but mothers of girls with a Down's syndrome sibling reported significantly more conduct problems than did other…

Activity levels of 69 educable (EMR) and 51 trainable mentally retarded (TMR) students (7-17 years old) were measured on an ultrasonic device. (CL)