Social-emotional problems of children with mild intellectual disabilities having parents with mental health concerns: A quantitative comparison study

Abstract

Introduction:

Children of parents with mental health concerns are at-risk for social-emotional problems. In this study, we assessed whether children with a mild intellectual disability and parents with mental health concerns are particularly at-risk.

Method:

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) reports of children with a mild intellectual disability (N = 55) and their parents with mental health concerns (N = 45) were compared to two comparison groups. The first group included children with average intelligence (N = 13) and their parents with mental health concerns (N = 56), the second group included children with mild intellectual disability (N = 44) and their parents (N = 36).

Results:

Children with a mild intellectual disability and a parent with mental health concerns show higher total SDQ problem scores and more internalizing and externalizing problems as compared to children in the two other groups.

Discussion:

Children having mild intellectual disability and parents with mental health concerns are particularly at risk for developing social-emotional problems.