Self-Pereception of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may view themselves as children; indeed they are often treated in a childlike manner by others. Some may develop a self-perception that they are minors and view children more as peers. Using data from this author’s (Smith, 2006) unpublished dissertation, developmental self-perception is explored by using a subset of questions from the SSKAAT-R instrument (Griffiths & Lunsky, 2003). This study discusses how some adults with IDD self-identify as more closely resembling children. A total of 26 adults with IDD, 17 males and nine females, were involved. With IRB approval, questions that would assess understanding regarding perception of self (along with a follow-up question regarding sexual attraction) were posed. Of the 26 participants, 73% self-identified as more closely resembling adults, whereas the remaining 27% self-identified as more closely resembling children.