Social support for families of children with mental retardation: comparison between Korea and the United States.

The informal and professional supports available for families of children with mental retardation in Korea and the United States were examined and the effects of culture and social support on maternal stress considered. Thirty-eight American and 40 Korean mothers participated in the home-visit interview. A pilot study identified 10 types of informal and 11 types of professional support for the two national groups. Results showed that American mothers received more informal and professional support in almost all domains of social support; Korean mothers experienced more stress. Possible explanations for these differences were explored.