title: Exposure to life events as a risk factor for psychological problems in adults with intellectual disabilities: a longitudinal design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several cross-sectional studies have shown an association between exposure to life events and psychological problems in adults with intellectual disability (ID). To establish life events as a risk factor, prospective designs are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Support staff informants provided data on the psychological problems of 68 adults with ID and their recent exposure to life events. Using data collected on the same sample 3.5 to 4 years earlier, prospective analysis of the relationships between life events exposure and psychological problems over time was explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hierarchical linear regression analyses demonstrated a contribution of life events to the prediction of later psychological problems after controlling for earlier psychological problems. Exploratory analyses showed that the relationship between life events and psychological problems might be unidirectional, and non-spurious; remaining present once the impact of other correlates of psychological problems was controlled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data offer support for the status of life events (with a negative valence) as a risk factor for psychological problems in adults with ID. To establish life events as a causal risk factor, research is needed to examine the mechanisms via which life events have their impact on psychological well-being.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hulbert-Williams
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulligan
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Noone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: intellectual disability; mental health; methodology in research; psychiatric disorders