Association between perceived social support and strain, and positive and negative outcome for adults with mild intellectual disability

Abstract

Social strain has been identified as a trigger for both depression and physical health problems, but has not been well researched in people with intellectual disability (ID). The present study contrasted the effects of social support with social strain on depressive symptoms, somatic complaints and quality of life over time in adults with mild ID. The level of social support explained a significant proportion of variance in quality of life 6 months later, but not depressive symptoms or somatic complaints. In contrast, the level of social strain accounted for a significant proportion of variance in depressive symptoms and somatic complaints 6 months later, but not quality of life. The results suggest that interpersonal relationships can be both positively and negatively associated with physical and mental health for people with ID.

A comparison of individual qualities of resiliency in adolescents with mild intellectual disability and typically developing adolescents

“…The obtained findings indicating the absence of significant age differences in self-efficacy are supported by the results of previous studies (Gresham et al, 1988;Payne & Jahoda, 2004). Similarly, the results which refer to sense of relatedness are consistent with the findings of other authors according to which, in persons with ID, there were no significant age differences in social skills (Adeniyi & Omigbodun, 2016;Heiman & Margalit, 1998), peer acceptance and relations (Heiman & Margalit, 1998;Wendelborg & Kvello, 2010), and perceived social support (Lunsky & Benson, 2001). In interpreting these findings, Nota and colleagues (2007) made a significant observation that the limited experiences and opportunities that hinder individual qualities of people with ID override any age-related effects.…”

Coping Strategies of Adults with Mild Intellectual Disability for Stressful Social Interactions

“…The BDS-S has 18 items and 3 response categories ("Never," "Sometimes," and "Most of the Time"). When used by adults with mild ID, the scale was positively correlated with somatic complaints (r = .54) and informant ratings of depressive symptoms (r = .26) (Benson & Ivins, 1992;Lunsky & Benson, 2001). In the present study the BDS-S had a mean of 13.68 and standard deviation of 7.97.…”

“…The INSI is a 40-item self-report inventory of negative social situations. Among adults with mild ID, the INSI has been shown to have satisfactory reliability and criterion validity (Lunsky & Benson, 2001;Lunsky & Bramston, 2006).…”

The Role of Positive and Negative Social Exchanges Between Adolescents, their Peers and Family as Predictors of Suicide Ideation

“…Associations with mental health outcomes have been identified when social support was measured by positive and negative social exchanges (Ingersoll-Dayton et al 1997), social strain (Lunsky and Benson 2001) and partner support during pregnancy (Norbeck and Anderson 1989). There is also suggestive evidence that some sources of support and negativity are more important than others to psychological well-being.…”