Resilience in the face of adversity in adults with an intellectual disability: A literature review.

The review found only 6 case reports, so it describes what some adults said rather than showing what helps most adults. Participants were mainly adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability living in protected homes, so the themes may not apply to people with severe disability or to people living independently. Quality scores ranged from 67% to 75%, and no study reported reflexivity, so the authors' influence on the findings was not described. Adversity and resilience were not measured consistently, and no standardized instruments were used. Three studies included only women, and 4 studies did not report the level of intellectual disability. The review reports themes, not effects, so it cannot show that any activity, relationship, health behaviour, or therapy caused resilience.

Do not read the resilience themes as proven treatments. The review included only 6 case reports and did not measure outcomes or test interventions, so it shows what participants reported, not what causes resilience.