Attitudes of parents of retarded children toward voluntary sterilization

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Abstract
The attitudes toward voluntary sterilization of 132 parents of retarded children were investigated. Approval-disapproval, intensity, and information were measured. The attitudes were related to each other, to religion, and to geographic area. The results showed that 60% of the total sample approved of sterilization, 72% of the Protestants, 60% of the Jews, 16% of the Catholics, and 73% of those who did not indicate their religion. Approval was positively related to intensity and information. Over a third erroneously believed that sterilization and castration were synonymous and had lower approval scores. The lack of information on this subject was offered as evidence of the need for counseling these parents. The need for further research was stressed.

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