Differences and similarities between children and adolescent exposed to interpersonal traumas with and without Intellectual Disability: An explorative study.
Kids with ID show far worse trauma fallout, so boost screening and lengthen support.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Sperandini et al. (2024) compared kids with and without intellectual disability after abuse or violence.
They looked at trauma signs, anxiety, social skills, and daily living scores.
What they found
Youth with ID had worse trauma symptoms, more worry, poorer social skills, and lower daily living scores.
The gap was large enough to change how you plan treatment.
How this fits with other research
Schaaf et al. (2015) already showed anxiety hits up to 22 % of kids with ID, but good screeners were scarce. Veronica’s team now shows trauma makes that anxiety even heavier.
Emerson (2003) first mapped higher rates of anxiety and conduct problems in ID youth. The new study sharpens the picture: after violence, these kids fall further behind.
Cox et al. (2015) gave hope by showing teens with ID still improve in inpatient care. Veronica’s worse scores do not block progress; they simply say start earlier and screen deeper.
Why it matters
If you work with kids who have both ID and trauma history, expect sharper symptoms and plan longer, gentler exposure steps. Use the new SWEMWBS-ID or Kidscreen10 from Wilson et al. (2023) to let teens rate their own mood. Add caregiver checks for PTSD and anxiety. Longer stays or more frequent booster sessions may be needed, but gains are still possible.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are more vulnerable to traumatic and stressful events, increasing their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). AIMS: This study aimed to investigate differences in psychopathology, post-traumatic symptoms, and adaptive functioning in a sample of Italian children and adolescents with and without ID. It also sought to determine whether the type of interpersonal trauma was associated with distinct psychopathological outcomes. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Sixty-six children and adolescents exposed to interpersonal trauma (physical/sexual abuse, domestic violence, and neglect), were selected and divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of ID. Assessment consisted of structured parent interviews and parent-reported questionnaires. For each scale, comparisons between subtests were performed. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Children and adolescents with ID were more likely to exhibit more severe post-traumatic symptoms, anxiety issues, social problems, and poorer adaptive functioning, with the exception of the practical domain, which appeared to be equally impaired in both groups. In terms of interpersonal trauma typology, exposure to physical/sexual abuse and domestic violence led to greater post-traumatic symptoms compared to neglect. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Interpersonal trauma significantly affects children and adolescents, with or without ID, highlighting the need for tailored treatments for both groups.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2024 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104860