A Comparison between Social Development and Behavioral Disorders between Exercising and Nonexercising Mentally Retarded Students in Tehran

The present research aims to reply to these questions: 1. Is there any significant difference between social development of the mentally retarded students who do physical exercises and those who do not? 2. Is there any significant difference between the above-mentioned group in regard to behavioral disorders? The sample consisted of 45 exercising educable mentally retarded students (42 boys & 3 girls) and 45 non- exercising educable mentally retarded students (42 boys & 3 girl). The subjects were students of exceptional primary and secondary schools of Tehran. The main (exercising) group was selected purposively. The selection of non-exercising group was done utilizing matching methods in the same schools. The research devices included Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS-V) and Rotter's 30-questioned teacher inventory. The results obtained through statistical data indicated that, there is a significant difference between social maturity of exercising and non- exercising mentally retarded students. In addition, the exercising individuals show less behavioral disorders due to their social maturity; however, non exercising students have poor social maturity and high behavioral disorders. In other words, there is an inverse relationship between physical exercises and Behavioral disorders.