Abstract
Children with intellectual disability are more vulnerable to adverse developmental outcomes because of the lifelong risks associated with cognitive impairment. In this chapter, we report a randomized controlled trial of an intervention that was designed to enhance the resilience of a group of children with mild intellectual disability as they prepared to make the transition to high school. Evaluation showed a significant intervention effect for the protective factor of social support, with a trend towards significance for tolerance. These positive benefits are important because social relatedness is likely to be problematic for many children with intellectual disability, yet is critical for many aspects of functioning and well-being, including mental health.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Angold, A., Costello, E. J., Loeber, R., Messer, S. C., Pickles, A., Winder, F., et al. (1995). Development of a short questionnaire for use in epidemiological studies of depression in children and adolescents: Factor composition and structure across development. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 5, 251–262.
Argus, G. R., Terry, P. C., Bramston, P., & Dinsdale, S. L. (2004). Measurement of mood in adolescents with intellectual disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 493–507.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). Canberra: ABS.
Benner, A. D. (2011). The transition to high school: Current knowledge, future directions. Educational Psychology Review, 23, 299–328.
Bhaumik, S., Tyrer, F. C., & McGrother, C. (2008). Psychiatric service use and psychiatric disorders in adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52, 986–995.
Bouras, N. (2013). Reviewing research of mental health problems for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 6, 71–73.
Brannan, D., Biswas-Diener, R., Mohr, C., Mortazavi, S., & Stein, N. (2013). Friends and family: A cross-cultural investigation of social support and subjective well-being among college students. Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 65–75.
Carlin, M. T., Toglia, M. P., Wakeford, Y., Jakway, A., Sullivan, K., & Hasel, L. (2008). Veridical and false pictorial memory in individuals with and without mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 113, 201–213.
Carlton, B. S., Goebert, D. A., Miyamoto, R. H., Andrade, N. N., Hishinuma, E. S., Makini, G. K. J., et al. (2006). Resilience, family adversity and well-being among Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian adolescents. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 52, 291–308.
Condly, S. (2006). Resilience in children: A review of literature with implications for education. Urban Education, 41, 211–236.
Denham, S., & Almeida, M. (1987). Children’s social problem-solving skills, behavioural adjustment, and interventions: A meta-analysis evaluating theory and practice. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 8, 391–409.
Didden, R., Sigafoos, J., Lang, R., O’Reilly, M., Drieschner, K., & Lancioni, G. (2012). Intellectual disabilities. In P. Sturmey & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of evidence-based practice in clinical psychology (Child and adolescent disorders, Vol. 1, pp. 131–159). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Durlak, J. A., & DuPre, E. P. (2008). Implementation matters: A review of research on the influence of implementation on program outcomes and the factors affecting implementation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 327–350.
Dyke, P., Leonard, H., Bourke, J., Bebbington, A., & Bower, C. (2007). Down syndrome needs opinions wishes study report. Perth Western Australia: Telethon Institute for Children Health Research.
Dykens, E. M. (2000). Psychopathology in children with intellectual disability. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 41, 401–417.
Einfeld, S. L., Ellis, L. A., & Emerson, E. (2011). Comorbidity of intellectual disability and mental disorder in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 36, 137–143.
Elliott, D. C., Kaliski, P., Burrus, J., & Roberts, R. D. (2013). Exploring adolescent resilience through the lens of core self-evaluations. In S. Prince-Embury & D. H. Saklofske (Eds.), Resilience in children, adolescents and adults: Translating research into practice (pp. 199–212). New York: Springer.
Emerson, E., & Hatton, C. (2007). Mental health of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in Britain. British Journal of Psychiatry, 191, 493–499.
Emerson, E., Shahtahmasebi, S., Lancaster, G., & Berridge, D. (2010). Poverty transitions among families supporting a child with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 35, 224–234.
Gerstein, E. D., Crnic, K. A., Blacher, J., & Baker, B. L. (2009). Resilience and the course of daily parenting stress in families of young children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53, 981–997.
Gillham, J., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L., & Seligman, M. (1995). Prevention of depressive symptoms in school children: Two year follow-up. Psychological Science, 6, 343–351.
Gilmore, L., Campbell, M., Shochet, I., & Roberts, C. (2013). Resiliency profiles of children with intellectual disability and their typically developing peers. Psychology in the Schools, 50, 1032–1043.
Gilmore, L., Shochet, I., Campbell, M., & Roberts, C. (2010). The assessment of mental health in children with ID. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23, 423.
Goodman, R. (1997). The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 581–586.
Grant, G., Ramcharan, P., & Flynn, M. (2007). Resilience in families with children and adult members with intellectual disabilities: Tracing elements of a psycho-social model. Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20, 563–575.
Guerette, A. R., & Smedema, S. M. (2011). The relationship of perceived social support with well-being in adults with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 105, 425–439.
Guralnick, M. J. (2005). Early intervention for children with intellectual disabilities: Current knowledge and future prospects. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18, 313–324.
Hall, L., & Hewson, S. (2006). The community links of a sample of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 19, 204–207.
Harris, J. (2006). Intellectual disability: Understanding its development, causes, classification, evaluation and treatment. New York: Oxford University Press.
Honey, A., Emerson, E., & Llewellyn, G. (2011). The mental health of young people with disabilities: Impact of social conditions. Social Psychiatry Epidemiology, 46, 1–10.
Jozefowicz-Simbeni, D. M. H., & Allen-Meares, P. (2002). Poverty and schools: Intervention and resource building through school-linked services. Children and Schools, 24, 123–136.
Kiddle, H., & Dagnan, D. (2011). Vulnerability to depression in adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 5, 3–8.
Kolaitis, G. (2008). Young people with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 21, 469–473.
Koskentausta, T., Iivanainen, M., & Almqvist, F. (2007). Risk factors for psychiatric disturbance in children with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 43–53.
Kube, D. A., & Palmer, F. B. (2009). Early intervention in developmental disabilities. In M. Shevell (Ed.), Neurodevelopmental disabilities: Clinical and scientific foundations (pp. 410–425). London: MacKeith Press.
Langenkamp, A. G. (2010). Academic vulnerability and resilience during the transition to high school: The role of social relationships and district context. Sociology of Education, 83, 1–19.
Lendrum, A., & Humphrey, N. (2012). The importance of studying the implementation of interventions in school settings. Oxford Review of Education, 38, 635–652.
Lipkin, P. H., & Schertz, M. (2008). Early intervention and its efficacy. In P. Accardo (Ed.), Capute and Accardo’s neurodevelopmental disabilities in infancy and childhood (Neurodevelopmental diagnosis and treatment 3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 519–552). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
Lunsky, Y., & Benson, B. A. (2001). Association between perceived social support and strain, and positive and negative outcome for adults with mild intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45, 106–114.
Mallin, B., Walker, J. R., & Levin, B. (2013). Mental health promotion in the schools: Supporting resilience in children and youth. In S. Prince-Embury & D. H. Saklofske (Eds.), Resilience in children, adolescents and adults: Translating research into practice (pp. 91–112). New York: Springer.
Matson, J. L., Terlonge, C., & Minshawi, N. F. (2008). Children with intellectual disabilities. In R. J. Morris & T. R. Kratochwill (Eds.), The practice of child therapy (4th ed., pp. 337–361). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Maughan, B. (2013). “Better by design”—Why randomized controlled trials are the building blocks of evidence-based practice. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 54, 225–226.
Meyers, M. K., Lukemeyer, A., & Smeeding, T. (1998). The cost of caring: Childhood disability and poor families. Social Service Review, 72, 209–233.
Mills, K. N. (2007). The effects of two components of the Aussie optimism program on social skills. Unpublished doctor of philosophy thesis, Murdoch University, Australia.
Murfield, J., Cooke, M., Moyle, W., Shum, D., & Harrison, S. (2011). Conducting randomized controlled trials with older people with dementia in long-term care: Challenges and lessons learnt. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 17, 52–59.
O’Hara, J., McCarthy, J., & Bouras, N. (Eds.). (2010). Intellectual disability and ill health: A review of the evidence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Oeseburg, B., Dijkstra, G. J., Groothoff, J. W., Reijneveld, S. A., & Jansen, D. E. M. C. (2011). Prevalence of chronic health conditions in children with intellectual disability: A systematic literature review. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49, 59–85.
Okawa, S., Yasuoka, J., Ishikawa, N., Poudel, K. C., Ragi, A., & Jimba, M. (2011). Perceived social support and the psychological well-being of AIDS orphans in urban Kenya. AIDS Care, 23, 1177–1185.
Oliver, P. C., Piachaud, J., Done, J., Regan, A., Cooray, S., & Tyrer, P. (2002). Difficulties in conducting a randomized controlled trial of health service interventions in intellectual disability: Implications for evidence-based practice. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 46, 340–345.
Porterfield, S. L. (2002). Word choices of mothers in families with children with disabilities. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 972–981.
Prince-Embury, S. (2007). Resilience scales for children and adolescents: A profile of personal strengths. San Antonio, TX: PsychCorp.
Reynolds, C. R., & Richmond, B. O. (2008). The Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS-2) (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Roberts, C., Ballantyne, F., & van der Klift, P. (2002). Aussie optimism: Social life skills program. Perth, WA: Curtin University of Technology.
Roberts, C., Kane, R., Bishop, B., Cross, D., Fenton, J., & Hart, B. (2010). The prevention of anxiety and depression in disadvantaged schools. Behavior Research and Therapy, 48, 68–73.
Roberts, C., Kane, R., Bishop, B., Matthews, H., & Thompson, H. (2004). The prevention of depressive symptoms in rural school children: A follow-up study. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 6, 4–16.
Roberts, C., West, D., Campbell, M., Ho, M., Ward, R., Gilmore, L., et al. (2009). Aussie optimism: Resilience skills. Perth, WA: Curtin University of Technology.
Roberts, C., Williams, R., Kane, R., Pintabona, Y., Cross, D., Zubrick, S., et al. (2011). Impact of a mental health promotion program on substance use in young adolescents. Advances in Mental Health, 10, 72–82.
Rose, G. (1992). The strategy of preventive medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rutter, M. (2013). Annual research review: Resilience—Clinical implications. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54, 474–487.
Sanders, M. R., Mazzucchelli, T. G., & Studman, L. J. (2004). Stepping stones triple P: The theoretical basis and development of an evidence-based positive parenting program for families with a child who has a disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 29, 265–283.
Sawyer, M. G., Pfeiffer, S., Spence, S. H., Bond, L., Graetz, B., Kay, D., et al. (2010). School-based prevention of depression: A randomised controlled study of the beyondblue schools research initiative. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51, 199–209.
Seltzer, M. M., Floyd, F. J., Greenberg, J. S., Hong, J., Taylor, J., & Doescher, H. (2009). Factors predictive of midlife occupational attainment and psychological functioning in adults with mild intellectual deficits. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 114, 128–143.
Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland adaptive behavior scales (2nd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Pearson Assessments.
Stewart, T., & Suldo, S. (2011). Relationships between social support sources and early adolescents’ mental health: The moderating effect of student achievement level. Psychology in the Schools, 48, 1016–1033.
Swannell, S., Hand, M., & Martin, G. (2009). The effects of a universal mental health promotion programme on depressive symptoms and other difficulties in year eight high school students in Queensland, Australia. School Mental Health, 1, 229–239.
Taggart, L., Taylor, D., & McCrum-Gardner, E. (2010). Individual, life events, family and socio-economic factors associated with young people with intellectual disability and with and without behavioural/emotional problems. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 14, 267–288.
Wallander, J. L., Dekker, M. C., & Koot, H. M. (2006). Risk factors for psychopathology in children with intellectual disability: A prospective longitudinal population-based study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 259–268.
Walsh, P. N., Emerson, E., Lobb, C., Hatton, C., Bradley, V., Schalock, R. L., et al. (2010). Supported accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities and quality of life: An overview. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7, 137–142.
Waters, S. K., Lester, L., Wenden, E., & Cross, D. (2012). A theoretically grounded exploration of the social and emotional outcomes of transition to secondary school. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 22, 190–205.
Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler intelligence scale for children (4th ed.). San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.
Werner, E. E. (2000). Protective factors and individual resilience. In J. P. Shonkoff & S. J. Meisels (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood interventions (2nd ed., pp. 115–132). New York: Cambridge University Press.
White, P., Chant, D., Edwards, N., Townsend, C., & Waghorn, G. (2005). Prevalence of intellectual disability and comorbid mental illness in an Australian community sample. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 39, 395–400.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gilmore, L. et al. (2014). Promoting Resilience in Children with Intellectual Disability: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Australian Schools. In: Prince-Embury, S., Saklofske, D. (eds) Resilience Interventions for Youth in Diverse Populations. The Springer Series on Human Exceptionality. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0542-3_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0542-3_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0541-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0542-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)