Abuse-provoking characteristics of institutionalized mentally retarded individuals.

Abuse-provoking characteristics of institutionalized mentally retarded individuals were examined. A group of 80 abused retarded clients in a residential setting were compared to a group of 80 nonabused clients. The two groups were compared on IQs, social quotients, presence of physical disabilities, aggressive behavior, ability to communicate verbally, presence of self-injurious behavior, ability to ambulate, sex, and age. Six of these characteristics (social quotient, aggression, verbal ability, age, self-injurious behavior, and ambulation) were significant in differentiating the abused from nonabused retarded individuals. A discriminant function was developed to help identify those clients who may be at risk of being abused.