The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing, and access to services of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosencrans, Margaret; Arango, Paulina; Sabat, Camila; Buck, Andrew; Brown, Christine; Tenorio, Marcela; Witwer, Andrea
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 114(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Mental health -- Physical health -- Healthcare -- Intellectual and developmental disabilities -- COVID-19; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103985
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: A little more than half the sample reported more mental health problems in Chile. About 41 % of participants in the U.S. reported more mental health problems. In the U.S., about 15 % of the sample said they lost disability-specific services. In the U.S., people who lost disability-specific services reported more mental health problems. In the U.S., people with more disability-related difficulties reported more mental health problems. Abstract: Background: Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may be especially vulnerable to changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic given an increased likelihood of health concerns, low socioeconomic status, and difficulty accessing services. Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore mental health problems and services in individuals with IDD during the pandemic. We explored whether number of mental health problems differed by disability, age, gender, living situation, physical health, and access to services. Methods and procedures: An online survey about experiences during the pandemic was administered to adults with IDD and their caregivers in the United States and in Chile. Outcomes and results: In both Chile and the United States, few people endorsed increased health problems. Half of the sample in Chile and 41 % of the sample in the United States endorsed increased mental health problems. Approximately 15 % of the sample in the US reported no longer receiving state developmental disability services. Conclusions and implications: Healthcare and disability-specific agencies should consider strategies to tailor supports to improve mental health functioning and access to community.