Decision-making abilities of mothers with mental retardation

The decision-making abilities of mothers with mental retardation and contrast mothers were examined. Both groups received two high- and two low-risk vignettes in full and partial formats. Although there were no significant differences between the two groups on the appropriateness of their decisions, as expected, the mothers with mental retardation scored lower both on the recall and elicited measures. Both groups scored lower on the partial formats than on the full formats, and on the high-risk vignettes than on the low-risk ones. These results suggest that familiarity with the parenting situation as well as the degree of risk inherent in that situation is of importance when one is examining decision making for either group. The results also suggest that although mothers with mental retardation can make in vitro decisions that are similar to those of nonhandicapped mothers of the same socioeconomic background, additional research must examine in vivo decision making for both groups.