A Comparison of Friendship Patterns of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

The importance of the development of friendships by persons with disabilities has become increasingly apparent as they move from institutionalized to community-based living arrangements. Little is known, however, about factors affecting the formation and maintenance of relationships between persons with and without disabilities. This study was designed to investigate relationship types and the domains in which they were formed for three groups of individuals. Participants with disabilities lived either in small community homes or a large residential facility. A nondisabled group served as a comparison. The results indicated a significant interaction between group and relationship type, with similar numbers of close relationships reported for participants from the small community homes and the nondisabled comparison group, and many more distant relationships reported for the comparison group in contrast to the small home participants. The large facility participants had fewer close friends than did either of the other two groups. Respondents from the comparison group met their friends in different domains than did either group with disabilities. The discussion considers strategies for developing a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these differences and methods for facilitating the formation and maintenance of friendships between persons with and without disabilities.

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