Age-Related and Residential Factors in Adaptive Behavior : Middle-Aged and Elderly Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of age-related and residential factors on adaptive behavior in middle-aged and elderly persons with intellectual disabilities. Participants were 188 persons with mental retardation, aged 40 years and over, who were living in a residential care institution or in group homes. Measures used in the study were the Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) and a personal questionnaire on aging issues which was completed by care staff. The primary results were as follows: (1) An age-related decline was found in those over 50 years old in the domain of independent functioning, regardless of the degree of intellectual disability. A similar decline was found in physical development, economic activity, and responsibility for those who had mild to moderate retardation, and in cleaning, occupation, and psychological disturbance for those with severe retardation. (2) Institution residents scored lower than group home residents in the domains of economic activity, locomotion, general independence, and kitchen work, regardless of the degree of intellectual disability. A similar difference was found in numbers and time conception, language development, and foresight and planning abilities for those with mild to moderate retardation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)