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The nature and quality of friendship for older adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland
Author(s) -
McCausland Darren,
McCallion Philip,
Carroll Rachael,
McCarron Mary
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12851
Subject(s) - friendship , intellectual disability , psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , quality (philosophy) , developmental psychology , social psychology , gerontology , medicine , psychiatry , philosophy , epistemology , psychotherapist
Background Friendship is important to quality of life, yet people with intellectual disability have more restricted social networks and fewer friends outside family and support staff. Method Data from a nationally representative longitudinal study of older adults with intellectual disability (aged >40) examined rates and types of friends. Factors associated with having a best friend and friendship quality were explored. Results A large majority (92.4%) had friends but just over half (52%) had a best friend. Co‐resident friends (71.8%) were more common than non‐resident friends (62%), while staff friendships (62.5%) were important. The majority of best friends were peers with intellectual disability (63.2%), carer/service providers (15.9%) or family (8.4%). Challenging behaviour and communication difficulty were associated with reduced likelihood of having a best friend. A best friend with intellectual disability was associated with lower friendship quality scores. Conclusion Limited choice and social opportunity may result in a precarious form of friendship for older people with intellectual disability that undermines their quality of life.