The structure and correlates of self-injurious behavior in an institutional setting.

The prevalence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in an institution for people with mental retardation was investigated. The relationship between SIB and age, sex, level of retardation, length of institutionalization, adaptive behavior, and probable causes of mental retardation was examined. A factor analysis on the topographies of SIB indicated the existence of two forms of SIB, stereotyped and social. The results are discussed in terms of probable causes of SIB.