'I Get by with a little help from my friends': Adults with intellectual disability discuss loneliness

Background This study explored 'loneliness' as experienced by adults with intellectual disability, with 'intermittent' to 'limited' support needs. Method A measure of loneliness was piloted, and qualitative techniques used to develop a greater understanding of the participants' experience. Results The Loneliness Scale proved valid and reliable and the participants reported loneliness in ways comparable with the general population. Conclusions The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of combining quantitative and qualitative techniques to enhance understanding of people's perspective when developing support systems to promote their quality of life. Based on participant perspectives, recommendations are made concerning the issues and types of support families and professionals could consider when seeking to assist people with intellectual disability address loneliness. Further investigation of the effects of differing educational and vocational opportunities on people's post-school social networks appears warranted.

[1]  V. Green,et al.  Social integration in the workplace for people with disabilities: An Australian perspective , 2003, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.

[2]  B. Bloom,et al.  Marital disruption as a stressor: a review and analysis. , 1978, Psychological bulletin.

[4]  J. Klingner,et al.  Importance of experimental as well as empirical qualitative studies in special education. , 2005, Mental retardation.

[5]  J. Beadle‐Brown,et al.  Person‐Centred Planning or Person‐Centred Action? Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability Services , 2004 .

[6]  M. W. Krauss,et al.  Social support networks of adults with mental retardation who live at home. , 1992, American journal of mental retardation : AJMR.

[7]  S. Asher,et al.  Assessment of loneliness at school among children with mild mental retardation. , 1992, American journal of mental retardation : AJMR.

[8]  Y. Wong,et al.  The Structure and Content of Social Inclusion: Voices of young adults with learning difficulties in Guangzhou , 2002 .

[9]  A. Marcoen,et al.  Loneliness Among Children and Young Adolescents. , 1985 .

[10]  M. Resnick,et al.  Family and peer issues among adolescents with spina bifida and cerebral palsy. , 1991, Pediatrics.

[11]  I. Duvdevany,et al.  Leisure activities, friendships, and quality of life of persons with intellectual disability: foster homes vs community residential settings , 2004, International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptation.

[12]  Peter Renshaw,et al.  Loneliness in children. , 1984 .

[13]  K. McVilly.  Interviewing People with a Learning Disability About Their Residential Service , 1995 .

[14]  J. Reinders.  The good life for citizens with intellectual disability. , 2002, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR.

[15]  B. Pescosolido.  The Role of Social Networks in the Lives of Persons with Disabilities , 2001 .

[16]  T. Heiman.  Depressive mood in students with mild intellectual disability: students' reports and teachers' evaluations. , 2001, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR.

[17]  Pandora Petrovski,et al.  The relationship between job satisfaction and psychological health in people with an intellectual disability in competitive employment , 1997 .

[18]  The Social Environment , 1959 .

[19]  Robert L. Schalock,et al.  Mental Retardation: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports , 2002 .

[20]  P. Froese,et al.  Comparing Opinions of People with Developmental Disabilities and Significant Persons in their Lives Using the Individual Supports Identification System (ISIS) , 1999 .

[21]  N. Frohlich,et al.  I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends , 1970, World Politics.

[22]  R. Weiss,et al.  Loneliness: The Experience of Emotional and Social Isolation. , 1975 .

[23]  Andrea Hughes,et al.  Befriending: A Note of Caution , 1999 .

[24]  A. Halpern,et al.  On My Own: The Impact of Semi-Independent Living Programs for Adults With Mental Retardation , 1986 .

[25]  D. Russell,et al.  Social and emotional loneliness: an examination of Weiss's typology of loneliness. , 1984, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[26]  E. Guba,et al.  Naturalistic inquiry: Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1985, 416 pp., $25.00 (Cloth) , 1985 .

[27]  W. Wolfensberger,et al.  A brief overview of Social Role Valorization. , 2000, Mental retardation.

[28]  D. Goodley.  Tales of Hidden Lives: A critical examination of life history research with people who have learning difficulties , 1996 .

[29]  Douglas Ezzy,et al.  Qualitative Research Methods: A Health Focus , 1999 .

[30]  M. Margalit,et al.  Loneliness, Depression, and Social Skills Among Students with Mild Mental Retardation in Different Educational Settings , 1998 .

[31]  I. Fleming,et al.  Evaluation of a community care project for people with learning difficulties. , 2008, Journal of mental deficiency research.

[32]  S. Havercamp,et al.  Distinguishing low levels of social support and social strain: implications for dual diagnosis. , 1999, American journal of mental retardation : AJMR.

[33]  T. Parmenter,et al.  Working with the Experts: Collaborative research with people with an intellectual disability , 2000 .

[34]  S. C. Hupp,et al.  A comparison of friendship patterns of individuals with developmental disabilities , 1993 .

[35]  S. Asher,et al.  Children's loneliness: a comparison of rejected and neglected peer status. , 1985, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[36]  J. Chadsey-Rusch,et al.  Assessing the loneliness of workers with mental retardation. , 1992, Mental retardation.

[37]  S. K. Biklen,et al.  “Are You Retarded?” “No, I'm Catholic”: Qualitative Methods in the Study of People with Severe Handicaps , 1988 .

[38]  K. McVilly,et al.  Quality of Life Issues in the Development and Evaluation of Services for People with Intellectual Disability. , 1998 .

[39]  Rob Kitchin,et al.  The Researched Opinions on Research: Disabled people and disability research , 2000 .

[40]  C. Sigelman.  Communicating with Mentally Retarded Persons: Asking Questions and Getting Answers. , 1983 .

[41]  R. Bruininks,et al.  The quality of life of mentally retarded people in residential care. , 1984, Social work.

[42]  K. Lowe.  COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE-WHAT CONSUMERS THINK , 1992 .

[43]  R. Hardy,et al.  Social outcomes in adulthood of children with intellectual impairment: evidence from a birth cohort. , 2005, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR.

[44]  S. Beyer,et al.  Daily Activity, Community Participation and Quality of Life in an Ordinary Housing Network , 1996 .

[45]  M. Marmot,et al.  Social support and social cohesion , 2005 .

[46]  K. McVilly,et al.  Friendship Activities of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Supported Accommodation in Northern England , 2004 .

[47]  C. Hatton,et al.  Listening to Adolescents and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities from South Asian Communities , 1997 .

[48]  Colin Barnes,et al.  Qualitative Research: Valuable or Irrelevant? , 1992 .

[49]  J. Dattilo,et al.  Interviewing people with mental retardation: validity and reliability strategies. , 1996 .

[50]  A. Amado.  Friendships and community connections between people with and without developmental disabilities. , 1993 .

[51]  Bonnie O'Day,et al.  Research on the Lives of Persons with Disabilities , 2002 .

[52]  T. Nettelbeck.  Mental retardation: Definition, classification, and systems of support , 2003 .

[53]  S L Phillips,et al.  Network characteristics related to the well-being of normals: a comparative base. , 1981, Schizophrenia bulletin.

[54]  M. Knox,et al.  The Meanings of Close Friendship: the Views of Four People with Intellectual Disabilities , 2001 .

[55]  J. Cassidy,et al.  Loneliness and peer relations in young children. , 1992, Child development.