Relationship between measures of adaptive functioning and community adjustment for adults with mental retardation

This study investigated the concurrent relations between measures of adaptive/maladaptive behavior and community adjustment in a sample of 239 adults with mild to severe degrees of mental retardation. Using canonical correlation procedures and multidimensional community adjustment measures, the investigators found significant relations between the measures of behavior and several community adjustment dimensions. The results provided evidence for the criterion-related validity of measures of adaptive/maladaptive behavior and suggested that such skills provide an important contribution to community adaptation and to program planning and decision making for individuals with mental retardation.