Scientists have linked living conditions with the mental health of children with disabilities

Children with intellectual disabilities from socially disadvantaged families are more likely to face emotional and behavioral difficulties. Scientists have also found that they have a higher prevalence of certain mental disorders. The role of family living conditions and why the severity of developmental disorders does not explain the differences found is described in the Izvestia article.

Living conditions and mental health

A study by University College London researchers, published in the journal JCPP Advances, surveyed 2,778 children and young adults aged four to 25 from the UK. All participants had intellectual developmental disabilities related to genetic conditions, including 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, Prader—Willi syndrome, or Angelman syndrome.

Parents and guardians filled out questionnaires about their children's health, development, and behavior. The researchers then compared the information obtained with three indicators of the socio-economic situation: the level of disadvantage of the area of residence, the right to free school meals and the level of education of parents.

Lead author Irene O. Lee of the Institute of Child Health at University College London noted that families experiencing socio-economic difficulties may face additional obstacles in obtaining the necessary assistance.

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Depression and behavioral difficulties

Children living in more deprived areas, eligible for free school meals, or whose parents received less education were more likely to experience emotional and behavioral difficulties. These include decreased mood, physical symptoms related to stress, behavioral problems, and difficulties in relationships with peers. Depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and behavioral disorders were also more common in these groups.

The researchers found the most noticeable differences when comparing children's rights to free school meals. Children who had such a right were 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with major depression and 2.3 times more likely to have behavioral disorders than children without such a right.

The results indicate a stable link between socio-economic disadvantage and the mental health of children with intellectual disabilities. However, the study does not allow us to assert that financial difficulties directly cause mental disorders.

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The severity of the violations does not explain the difference

Scientists have not found a clear pattern according to which more pronounced intellectual disabilities would be accompanied by more serious mental health problems. At the same time, the connection with socio-economic disadvantage was traced according to various indicators.

The senior author of the paper, David Skuse, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Child Health at University College London, stressed that families who care for children with intellectual disabilities have to cope with additional difficulties.

Limitations of the study

The authors pointed out that most of the information came from parents and guardians, rather than from independent expert assessments. In addition, some families did not fill out all the questionnaires, and the participants' life circumstances, degree of social disadvantage and severity of violations could not be measured in all details.

The study reflects the situation at a certain point in time, therefore it does not allow to establish a causal relationship. Scientists cannot say whether social disadvantage leads to mental health problems or whether the difficulties of caring for a child with intellectual disabilities themselves contribute to the financial problems of the family.

Despite these limitations, the authors consider it important to take into account the social status of the family when studying the mental health of children. They also emphasize the importance of affordable psychological and social support to reduce inequality.