The COVID-19 pandemic and quality of life outcomes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Carli Friedman
PMID 34144897WHAT IT FOUND
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities were less likely to feel secure, interact with their community, or have intimate relationships in 2020 compared to 2019.
However, they were more likely to choose their personal goals.
Key findings
01Participants were significantly less likely to experience continuity and security in 2020 compared to 2019.
02Participants were significantly less likely to interact with or participate in their community in 2020 compared to 2019.
03Participants were significantly more likely to choose personal goals in 2020 compared to 2019.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample of service recipients, which may not represent the broader population of people with disabilities. It was not a longitudinal design; different people were interviewed in different years, so changes reflect population shifts rather than individual trajectories. The study did not collect data on whether participants contracted COVID-19 or specific service funding changes. Some 2020 interviews may have been conducted virtually, which could affect how outcomes were assessed compared to in-person interviews in 2019.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the increase in choosing personal goals reflects improved self-determination or service quality. The authors suggest this may be an artifact of providers improvising new activities during closures, and the finding is counterintuitive given the overall decline in other quality-of-life domains.