| dc.description.abstract | Social engagement is a key aspect of a happy, healthy life for all individuals, including adults with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). The current study analyzed how level of functioning connected to frequency of social activities, activity partners, and friendship, all which are key aspects of social engagement. Over 500 caregivers of adults with IDD took the survey, responding to items about their own characteristics, the characteristics of the adult with IDD (including level of functioning, operationalized as Activities of Daily Living score quartiles), the adults’ social engagement (frequency of 20 social activities, frequency of participation with 5 different activity partners, and number of friends in three categories), and potential correlates to the social engagement variables. Adults with disabilities participated in many social activities, but their participation was mostly in social activities happening within the house. Adults with IDD participated in social activities with family the most often, and peers without disabilities least often. Compared to adults with higher levels of functioning, adults with the lowest level of functioning participated in the fewest social activities, had less social engagement outside their family, participated less in disability organization activities, and had fewer friends. Conversely, those with the lowest (versus highest) functioning levels participated in activities with caregivers and professionals more frequently. Also compared to adults with higher levels of functioning, adults with low levels had weaker connections between social engagement variables. Implications of these findings, for both practice and policy, are given to close the gaps in the social engagement of adults with varying levels of functioning. | en_US |
