Risk and Resilience Factors in the Mental Health and Well-Being of Women with Intellectual Disability

Background Women with intellectual disability are thought to be at increased risk of mental illness, yet little is known about resiliency factors supporting women's mental health. This article reports on such factors drawn from a study that aimed to address how women with intellectual disabilit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities 2015-11, Vol.28 (6), p.572-583
Main Authors: Conder, Jennifer Ann, Mirfin-Veitch, Brigit Frances, Gates, Sue
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
At Risk Persons
Comorbidity
Drug Therapy
Family Relationship
Female
Females
Foreign Countries
Humans
Intellectual disabilities
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability - complications
Intellectual Disability - psychology
Interview, Psychological
Interviews
Mental Disorders
Mental Disorders - complications
Mental Disorders - psychology
Mental Health
Mental health care
Middle Aged
New Zealand
Peer Relationship
Personal Autonomy
Psychological Patterns
Qualitative Research
resilience
Resilience (Psychology)
Resilience, Psychological
Risk Factors
Stress Variables
Violence
Well Being
women
Young Adult
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Summary:Background Women with intellectual disability are thought to be at increased risk of mental illness, yet little is known about resiliency factors supporting women's mental health. This article reports on such factors drawn from a study that aimed to address how women with intellectual disability experience their mental health and well‐being. Materials and Methods Utilizing a broad qualitative approach, 25 New Zealand women, aged 21–65 years were interviewed about their life from childhood to the present, including, where relevant, their experience of mental illness. Data were analysed using a general inductive approach. Results Resiliency factors aligned with the theme ‘keeping mentally well’, subthemes of which were as follows: the importance of relationships with family and friends; keeping busy; and autonomy and happiness. Challenges for resiliency could be seen in the theme ‘mental illness’ where subthemes of abuse, long‐term stress and medication were identified. Conclusions Many of the women demonstrated remarkable resiliency, despite setbacks and exposure to risks, provided they were nested within a supportive context. Those women who experienced major mental illness shared evidence of both higher risk factors and less support available at crucial times.
ISSN:1360-2322
1468-3148
DOI:10.1111/jar.12153