Correlation between mother's attachment style and school anxiety of their educable mental retarded children

Background: According to the attachment theory, anxiety disorders due to the child and based on attachment disorders are defined. This study examined the relationship between mother's attachment style and school anxieties of mentally retarded male students. Methods: All mentally retarded male students of secondary schools during academic year of 2008-2009 in Shiraz were studied (127 students). The adult attachment style questionnaire (AAS -1987) used to assess maternal attachment and school anxiety test (SAS-TR) was applied to assess school anxiety of mental retarded students. The Spearman correlation and Kelomogrof- Smirnoff statistical tests used for data analyses. Results: Secure attachment style of mothers had a negative significant correlation with school anxiety (p<0.001).  Insecure avoidant and insecure ambivalent attachment style of mothers showed positive significant correlation with school anxiety (p=0.031 and p<0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Mother’s attachment style may influence on school anxiety of mental retarded children. Keywords: attachment style, school anxiety, educable mentally retarded.