Examining the Predictors of Life Satisfaction in College Students With Intellectual Disability.

The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot determine cause and effect; for example, it is unclear if belongingness improves life satisfaction or if satisfied students feel more belonging. Nearly half of the participants had support from a family member or staff to complete the survey, which may have influenced how they reported their psychological experiences. The measure of belonging used was a hybrid of existing scales and had not been previously validated for college students with intellectual disability. Students may have had co-occurring autism spectrum disorder, which was not directly assessed, potentially confounding the high anxiety rates. The sample was recruited from programmes that met specific criteria, so results may not apply to all students with intellectual disability in college.

The study was funded in part by the Nisonger Center Research Fund. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not assume that reducing anxiety or depression alone will improve life satisfaction. The study found that belongingness predicted life satisfaction even after accounting for mental health symptoms, suggesting that social connection and inclusion are distinct and critical targets for intervention.