Loneliness and how to counter it: People with intellectual disability share their experiences and ideas

ABSTRACT

Background

People with intellectual disability are at higher risk of experiencing social isolation in their everyday lives, because of exclusionary practices, discriminatory social policies and structural exclusion. However, less is known about what people with intellectual disability themselves think about loneliness in their lives and what might alleviate it.

Method

In this inclusive research study, 17 people with intellectual disability participated in focus groups or individual interviews and talked about what makes them feel lonely and what helps them to feel included.

Results

Our findings indicate that the domains of interaction, participation, personal security and attitudes are areas of strong influence on people’s experience of inclusion and exclusion and hold opportunities for positive change.

Conclusions

Change at systems and community levels is needed to ensure people with intellectual disability are included, have access to disability-ready places that respect their human rights, listen, recognise and include their strategies to alleviate loneliness.

KEYWORDS:

• Loneliness
• social isolation
• inclusion
• participation
• attitudes
• rights

Acknowledgements

We thank the participants for their open and frank discussions of this difficult topic, the advisory group members for their guidance, and the organisations for their support. We also thank Tim Cahalan, our insightful community researcher.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 What Helps you feel included; People with intellectual disability talking about loneliness and feeling included https://www.ourvoicesa.org.au/application/files/8416/2786/9113/What_helps_Easy_Read.pdf accessed 9 August 2022.

 

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded through a Flinders University establishment grant.