Aging parents with adult mentally retarded children: family risk factors and sources of support.

Predictors of four indices of well-being among 203 aging mothers of mentally retarded adults who live at home were examined. Maternal demographic variables (age, marital status, education, and income) correlated with maternal physical health and life satisfaction, whereas adult child risk factors (level of retardation, having Down syndrome, physical health, and functional skills) related more strongly to parenting stress and burden. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the family's social climate was a better predictor of maternal well-being than were formal or informal support, controlling for maternal and adult child risk factors. Results were considered in the context of previous findings in mental retardation and gerontology.