Impact of additional disabilities on adaptive behavior and support profiles for people with intellectual disabilities.
Numerous researchers have reported a high incidence of additional disabilities coexisting with intellectual disabilities. Although an intuitive link can be made between the existence of multiple disabilities and greater need for support, little has been reported about this relationship. Using measures of adaptive functioning and support needs, we examined the extent to which adaptive and challenging behaviors and consequent support needs (including medical) were impacted by the presence and severity of additional disabilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Results show that adaptive behaviors and support needs were meaningfully related to the number and severity of additional disabilities present, whereas this was not so for challenging behaviors. Findings are discussed in terms of contemporary models of disability and functioning.
Harries
Julia
J
University of Adelaide, school of Psychology, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. julia.harries@adelaide.edu.au
Guscia
Roma
R
Nettelbeck
Ted
T
Kirby
Neil
N
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012112:Residential Facilities; D013021:South Australia; D055815:Young Adult