Causal beliefs about intellectual disability and schizophrenia and their relationship with awareness of the condition and social distance

Evidence on mental illness stigma abounds yet little is known about public perceptions of intellectual disability. This study examined causal beliefs about intellectual disability and schizophrenia and how these relate to awareness of the condition and social distance. UK lay people aged 16+(N=1752), in response to vignettes depicting intellectual disability and schizophrenia, noted their interpretation of the difficulties, and rated their agreement with 22 causal and four social distance items. They were most likely to endorse environmental causes for intellectual disability, and biomedical factors, trauma and early disadvantage for schizophrenia. Accurate identification of both vignettes was associated with stronger endorsement of biomedical causes, alongside weaker endorsement of adversity, environmental and supernatural causes. Biomedical causal beliefs and social distance were negatively correlated for intellectual disability, but not for schizophrenia. Causal beliefs mediated the relationship between identification of the condition and social distance for both conditions. While all four types of causal beliefs acted as mediators for intellectual disability, for schizophrenia only supernatural causal beliefs did. Educating the public and promoting certain causal beliefs may be of benefit in tackling intellectual disability stigma, but for schizophrenia, other than tackling supernatural attributions, may be of little benefit in reducing stigma

Submission to the UN Day of General Discussion on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities, 15th April 2015

This submission addresses the progress of inclusive education for children and young people with intellectual disabilities around the globe. As part of our submission we present data from a survey of disability organisations and experts (researchers and academics in the field of (intellectual) disability) completed in early 2015

A qualitative exploration of stigma experience and inclusion among adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability in an Indonesian context

BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disability are among the most stigmatised groups in society. There is a paucity of studies reporting on how stigma is experienced in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to explore the experience of stigma among adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability and the extent of their inclusion in Indonesian society. METHOD: Fifteen adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability were purposively recruited from three service providers and were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The findings suggest that adults with intellectual disability experience stigma in multiple settings (family, school, community), have limited access to social activities, and internalised the experienced stigma. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the international understanding of stigma experienced by adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability in daily life and their inclusion in society in a middle-income country

Extended brief intervention to address alcohol misuse in people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities living in the community (EBI-ID): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

There is some evidence that people with intellectual disabilities who live in the community are exposed to the same risks of alcohol use as the rest of the population. Various interventions have been evaluated in the general population to tackle hazardous or harmful drinking and alcohol dependence, but the literature evaluating interventions is very limited regarding intellectual disabilities. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that brief and extended brief interventions be used to help young persons and adults who have screened as positive for hazardous and harmful drinking. The objective of this trial is to investigate the feasibility of adapting and delivering an extended brief intervention (EBI) to persons with mild/moderate intellectual disability who live in the community and whose level of drinking is harmful or hazardous

The effect of brief digital interventions on attitudes to intellectual disability: Results from a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the effects of contact and education based interventions on attitudes is limited in the intellectual disability field. This study compared the effects of brief interventions with different education, indirect and imagined contact components on lay people's attitudes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 401 adult participants were randomised to six digital brief interventions consisting of different combinations of education, indirect and imagined contact. Their attitudes, intergroup anxiety and social distance were assessed post-intervention and at four to six-week follow-up. RESULTS: An intervention combining film-based education about intellectual disability and indirect contact had small positive effects on all three outcomes. Social distance was further reduced with the addition of a positively toned imagined contact task. These effects were maintained at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A brief film-based digital intervention can have small positive effects on attitudes to people with intellectual disabilities. These may be enhanced by adding positive imagined contact

Stigma experienced by family members of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: multidimensional construct

Background: There is a lack of good-quality instruments measuring stigma experienced by family members of stigmatised people. // Aims: To develop a self-report measure of stigma among families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and examine associations between family stigma and other variables. // Method: The new Family Stigma Instrument (FAMSI) was tested with 407 family carers, 53% of whose offspring had an autism spectrum disorder in addition to intellectual disability. They also completed measures of subjective well-being, caregiver burden, self-esteem and social support. // Results: The FAMSI yielded a five-factor structure and had good reliability. Perceived family stigma, caregiver burden and subjective well-being were the strongest predictors of family stigma. // Conclusions: This instrument can advance our understanding of the impact of stigma on family members. It can also help us understand sociodemographic, psychosocial and contextual variables of both the carer and cared for person that may influence family members' experiences. // Declaration of interest: None

Intellectual disability stigma and initiatives to challenge it and promote inclusion around the globe

There is a dearth of studies that have examined the attitudes of society toward people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) on a global scale. This study set out to gauge the extent to which ID continues to be stigmatized and to which initiatives are in place to increase their inclusion and tackle stigma around the globe. Data were collected using a web survey from 667 experts and organizations in the (intellectual) disability field pertaining to 88 countries and covering all world regions. Information about the study was disseminated by four multinational disability organizations, and the survey was available in five languages. Findings and responses indicated that the general public in many parts of the world broadly support the fundamental principle of inclusion of children and adults with IDs, yet negative attitudes persist. High levels of stigma and denial of fundamental rights still appeared a reality in many places. Initiatives to tackle stigma appeared patchy and least in evidence where they were most needed. In many parts of the world the life chances of people with IDs often appear still very poor, and support and advocacy almost entirely their families' responsibility. More needs to be done globally to reduce the stigma associated with ID and to promote active engagement and regular social interactions between persons with IDs and their fellow citizens without IDs

Attitudes of Key Professionals towards People with Intellectual Disabilities and their Inclusion in Society: A Qualitative Study in an Indonesian Context

This study aimed to explore key professionals’ attitudes towards people with intellectual disability (ID) and inclusion of said people in the community. Eighteen participants from three professional groups, comprising health practitioner (medical doctors, psychologists), mainstream/special education teachers, and religious leaders (Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hindu, and Buddhist) were recruited. Semi-structured interviews, aided by two vignettes depicting mild and severe ID, were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Seven themes were identified exploring perceived causes; use of terminology; attitudes towards people with ID; attitudes towards inclusion, religion and ID; family-centric support, and challenges faced by people with ID in a wider context. Perceived capabilities of persons with ID were found to influence attitudes towards people with ID and their inclusion. Availability and accessibility of good quality services were also found to influence attitudes towards the inclusion of people with ID. Cultural factors related to attitudes towards ID are discussed