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Chow AYM, McEvoy J, Chan IKN, Borschel M, Yuen JHL, Lo JYM. Do men and women with intellectual disabilities understand death? JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2017; 61:1130-1139. [PMID: 29044766 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with ID are often withheld information about the death of their loved ones as it has often been thought that they do not understand death or cannot grieve. This grief exacerbates the stress of individuals with ID as they often encounter secondary losses such as transitioning to a care facility. The aim of this study is to investigate men and women with ID understanding death concepts and to what extent. METHOD Adopting a stratified random sampling method, 156 Chinese people with ID were invited to join the study. One hundred and ten participants were interviewed using simple death related vignettes expanding upon and replicating a published study carried out in Ireland. The understanding of the five death concepts: causality, irreversibility, nonfunctionality, universality and inevitability was examined. The correlates of demographics, bereavement experiences and comprehension were explored. RESULTS The majority of the participants did understand concepts such as death is irreversible and that the deceased no longer function. One third of the participants understood causality and the universality of death. One fifth understood the inevitability of death. Previous bereavement experiences were correlated with higher understanding. Communication and community skills were correlated with all concepts of death except universality. CONCLUSION The results indicate that individuals with ID do have a partial to full understanding of the concepts of death. The culture of Hong Kong is one that considers death to be a taboo or unlucky subject. Therefore, the results mirror the the lack of understanding of universality and inevitability concepts as it is forbidden to speak of these concepts. An open and honest environment is encouraged to educate individuals with ID about death and bereavement.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Y M Chow
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Sau Po Centre on Ageing, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - J McEvoy
- Centre for Disability Studies, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - I K N Chan
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - M Borschel
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - J H L Yuen
- Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Hong Kong
| | - J Y M Lo
- Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Hong Kong
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McEvoy J, Treacy B, Quigley J. A matter of life and death: knowledge about the body and concept of death in adults with intellectual disabilities. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2017; 61:89-98. [PMID: 27862508 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increased awareness of how people with intellectual disabilities (ID) understand death and dying is necessary in supporting life-long learning, post-bereavement support and planning end-of-life care. Previous research suggests that adults with ID have a limited or 'patchy' understanding of the basic biological components of death. However, the relationship between biological understanding of how the body works and conceptualisation of death remains unexplored in this population. METHOD Thirty adults with ID were interviewed to assess their knowledge of human body function and their understanding of the concept of death. Using pictures, participants were asked if they recognised certain organs, asked to explain the function of various body parts and what would happen if certain body parts were missing or did not work. Participants who referred to 'life' or 'not dying' as the goal of body function were categorised as 'Life Theorisers'. In addition, participants were asked about the causes of death, whether all things die and the status of the body after death. RESULTS The results support previous studies suggesting that understanding of death in adults with ID varies from partial to full comprehension and is associated with level of ID. Also, death comprehension was positively correlated with total body interview scores and 'Life Theorisers' who understood that body parts maintain life and who spontaneously appealed to 'vitalistic' concepts when reasoning about the human body were also more sophisticated in their understanding of death. CONCLUSION The study highlights the relationship between knowledge about the goal of human body functioning and death comprehension in adults with ID. The potential that learning to adopt a 'vitalistic' approach to human functioning may have on the acquisition of a greater understanding of death and dying, understanding illness and supporting end-of-life planning is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J McEvoy
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - B Treacy
- School of Psychology, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Quigley
- School of Psychology, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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Foley KR, Girdler S, Bourke J, Jacoby P, Llewellyn G, Einfeld S, Tonge B, Parmenter TR, Leonard H. Influence of the environment on participation in social roles for young adults with down syndrome. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108413. [PMID: 25259577 PMCID: PMC4178155 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The concept of disability is now understood as a result of the interaction between the individual, features related to impairment, and the physical and social environment. It is important to understand these environmental influences and how they affect social participation. The purpose of this study is to describe the social participation of young adults with Down syndrome and examine its relationship with the physical and social environment. Methods Families ascertained from the Down syndrome ‘Needs Opinion Wishes’ database completed questionnaires during 2011. The questionnaires contained two parts, young person characteristics and family characteristics. Young adults’ social participation was measured using the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H) and the influences of environmental factors were measured by the Measure of the Quality of the Environment (MQE). The analysis involved descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression. Results Overall, participation in daily activities was higher (mean 6.45) than in social roles (mean 5.17) (range 0 to 9). When the physical and/or social environment was reported as a facilitator, compared to being no influence or a barrier, participation in social roles was greater (coef 0.89, 95%CI 0.28, 1.52, coef 0.83, 95%CI 0.17, 1.49, respectively). The relationships between participation and both the physical (coef 0.60, 95% CI −0.40, 1.24) and social (coef 0.20, 95%CI −0.47, 0.87) environments were reduced when age, gender, behavior and functioning in ADL were taken into account. Conclusion We found that young adults’ participation in social roles was influenced more by the physical environment than by the social environment, providing a potentially modifiable avenue for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty-Rose Foley
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sonya Girdler
- School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Jenny Bourke
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Peter Jacoby
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Stewart Einfeld
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bruce Tonge
- Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Helen Leonard
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Gray KM, Piccinin A, Keating CM, Taffe J, Parmenter TR, Hofer S, Einfeld SL, Tonge BJ. Outcomes in young adulthood: are we achieving community participation and inclusion? JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2014; 58:734-745. [PMID: 23865802 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recognition of the importance of integrated community living and support, there is evidence that parents remain the primary caregivers of young adults with intellectual disability (ID). In addition, employment rates remain low in this population. This study aimed to investigate the changes in living arrangements and participation in daytime activities over time in a community population of young people with ID. METHOD The sample consisted of 536 participants aged 4.0-18.9 years at Wave 1, followed up at Wave 5 when aged 20.5-37.6 years. Information was collected on their living arrangements and daytime activities at both time points, along with living skills and information on community social inclusion at Wave 5. For parents still caring for their adult child with ID, information was also collected on parental ratings of their own mental and physical health, and their satisfaction with the long-term care arrangements for their adult child. RESULTS A significant proportion of young people were still living with their parents at Wave 5. A greater proportion of those with a severe-profound degree of ID were living in residential care. Parents caring for their adult child reported high levels of mental health problems and dissatisfaction with the long-term care arrangements for their child. A small proportion of young people were in paid employment, and the majority was engaged in structured activities provided for those with an ID. Over one-third of the sample participated in a structured daytime activity for 10 or fewer hours per week, and 7% were not engaged in any structured daytime activity. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that adequate provision of accommodation and employment services for young adults with an ID is lacking. In many cases the responsibility of care continues to reside with parents as their children transition from childhood to adulthood. Greater attention is needed to address these issues and facilitate social inclusion and integration for young people with ID.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Gray
- Centre for Developmental Psychiatry & Psychology, School of Psychology & Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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McEvoy J, Machale R, Tierney E. Concept of death and perceptions of bereavement in adults with intellectual disabilities. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2012; 56:191-203. [PMID: 21801263 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01456.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bereavement is potentially a time of disruption and emotional distress. For individuals with an intellectual disability (ID), a limited understanding of the concept of death may exacerbate this distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate how individuals with ID understand and explain death and make sense of life without the deceased. METHOD Thirty-four people with ID were interviewed using simple vignettes describing death-related incidents. Participants were asked about the causes of death, the status of the body after death and whether all living things die. In addition, participants were asked about reactions to death and for their views on post-bereavement support. RESULTS Nearly one quarter of participants had a full understanding and over two-thirds a partial understanding of the concept of death. Death comprehension was positively correlated with cognitive ability and adaptive functioning. While cause of death was predominantly associated with illness and old age, participants viewed death as final and understood that all living things die. The role of religious beliefs was also found to be important for many participants. CONCLUSIONS The results support earlier findings that suggest people with ID have only a partial understanding of the concept of death leaving them vulnerable to factually incorrect thoughts. The study highlights the considerable scope for making sense of death using religious and spiritual themes and emphasises the need for teaching individuals biological explanations of the life cycle. The results also provide some insight into the views of individuals with ID for carers involved in providing post-bereavement support.
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Affiliation(s)
- J McEvoy
- School of Health & Science, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.
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Guerin S, Dodd P, Tyrell J, McEvoy J, Buckley S, Hillery J. An initial assessment of the psychometric properties of the Complicated Grief Questionnaire for People with Intellectual Disabilities (CGQ-ID). RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2009; 30:1258-1267. [PMID: 19556102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2009.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2009] [Accepted: 05/05/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Given the research evidence that people with intellectual disability (ID) do grieve following bereavement, the present study aimed to describe and gather preliminary psychometric data for a version of the Inventory of Complicated Grief [Prigerson, H. G., Maciejewski, P. K., Reynolds, C. F., Bierhals, A. J., Newsom, J. T., Fasiczka, A., et al. (1995). Inventory of Complicated Grief: A scale to measure maladaptive symptoms of loss. Psychiatry Research, 59, 65-79] adapted for use with this population. Carers completed the Complicated Grief Questionnaire for People with ID (CGQ-ID) for 76 individuals with ID, half of whom had experienced a parental bereavement within the last 2 years. The final scale and subscales (Separation Distress and Traumatic Grief) showed very good internal and inter-rater reliability and distinguished between the two groups. While the findings suggest that the CGQ-ID is suitable for identifying complicated grief-type symptoms among adults with ID, further research must be conducted to ascertain whether the findings can be replicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Guerin
- School of Psychology and Centre for Disability Studies, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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MacHale R, McEvoy J, Tierney E. Caregiver Perceptions of the Understanding of Death and Need for Bereavement Support in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2009.00513.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Dodd P, Guerin S, McEvoy J, Buckley S, Tyrrell J, Hillery J. A study of complicated grief symptoms in people with intellectual disabilities. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2008; 52:415-425. [PMID: 18221331 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01043.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous studies have shown a significant association between familial bereavement and the onset of challenging behaviours and psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, little work has been done to accurately describe the specific symptoms of grief, in particular symptoms of complicated grief in this population. Consensus criteria for the diagnosis of complicated grief have been drawn up and tested for validity in the general population. AIMS To examine the occurrence of symptoms of complicated grief, and to explore the relationships between complicated grief and bereavement experience. METHOD A bereavement history questionnaire and a newly developed measure examining for symptoms of complicated grief were administered to a group of carers of people with mild or moderate ID, who had experienced a parental bereavement within the previous 2 years. The questionnaires were also administered to a matched comparison group, who had not been bereaved. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS This carer-based comparison study has revealed that bereaved individuals with ID experience complicated grief symptoms following the death of a parent, with one-third of the bereaved group experiencing 10 or more clinically apparent symptoms. In addition, complicated grief symptoms were more likely to occur with higher rates of bereavement ritual involvement. These findings have both clinical and research implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Dodd
- St Michael's House, Coolock, Dublin, Ireland; University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland.
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Dagnan D, McEvoy J, Sturmey P. The psychometric properties of a brief scale for assessing challenging behaviour. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995. [DOI: 10.1080/03033910.1995.1010558039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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