Social support and intellectual disabilities: a comparison between social networks of adults with intellectual disability and those with physical disability

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 463 - 473
• Main Authors: Lippold, T., Burns, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2009; Blackwell Publishing; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Adults; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers; Comparative Analysis; Disability; Disabled people; Disabled Persons; Family Relationship; Female; Humans; Intellectual deficiency; Intellectual Disability; Interpersonal Relations; Learning disabilities; Learning disabled people; Life Style; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Retardation; Mild Mental Retardation; People with disabilities; Physical Disabilities; physical disability; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life; Social Isolation; Social Networks; Social relationships; Social Support; Social Support Groups; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Human; social networks; Social network; Developmental disorder; Mental retardation; Social participation; Physical handicap; physical disability; Young adult; Intellectual deficiency; Adult; Comparative study; intellectual disability; Social support
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01170.x

Background  Social support has been identified as a major protective factor in preventing mental health problems and also as a major contributor to quality of life. People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have been identified as having limited social support structures. Interventions have been focused on promoting their social presence and integration. However, previous studies have shown that this does not always lead to the formation of social relationships. To date few studies have looked at how having an ID leads to impoverished social networks. This study aimed to do this by contrasting the social relationships of people with physical disabilities (PD) and people with ID. Methods  Two groups of participants were recruited; 30 people with mild ID and 17 people with PD. Social and functional support networks were assessed, in addition to life experiences. Between and within group differences were then explored statistically. Results  Adults with ID had more restricted social networks than PD, despite being involved in more activities. Social support for adults with ID was mainly provided by family and carers and few relationships with non‐disabled people were identified. In contrast adults with PD had larger social networks than had been reported in the mainstream literature and had a balance of relationships with disabled and non‐disabled people. Conclusions  The results suggest that there are additional processes attached to having an ID, which lead to continued impoverished lifestyles. The findings also endorse other work that suggests being physically integrated and engaged in a wide range of activities does not guarantee good social and emotional support.