Sellitto T, Fraser-Thomas J, Bassett-Gunter RL, Lee V, Lunsky Y, Balogh R, Weiss JA. The role of thriving in mental health among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.
J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2024;
37:e13177. [PMID:
37987194 DOI:
10.1111/jar.13177]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Numerous pandemic-related stressors experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities may have impacted their ability to thrive, which has been linked to mental health outcomes. The current study examined the associations among COVID-19 stressors, thriving, and mental health problems among youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
METHOD
Caregivers of 159 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities between 12 and 35 years of age from Canada completed an online questionnaire.
RESULTS
A mediation analysis revealed that COVID-19 stressors were positively associated with mental health problems, and that thriving partially mediated this association.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that experiences of thriving may be an important target for mental health support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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