Subjective Mental Health, Peer Relations, Family, and School Environment in Adolescents with Intellectual Developmental Disorder: A First Report of a New Questionnaire Administered on Tablet PCs

ABSTRACT

Few studies have explored the subjective mental health of adolescents with intellectual disabilities, while proxy ratings indicate an overrepresentation of mental health problems. The present study reports on the design and an initial empirical evaluation of the Well-being in Special Education Questionnaire (WellSEQ). Questions, response scales, and an application for tablet PCs were developed in cooperation with students and teachers in special education schools. One hundred and thirteen students (age 12–16) and their parents and teachers participated. Positive results in terms of test-retest reliability, internal consistency of scales, and response rates were obtained. Level of reading appeared to affect the students’ understanding of items. Teachers’ and parents’ ratings on the WellSEQ correlated well with established measures. Correlations between proxy ratings and students’ reports varied. The questionnaire and technology of WellSEQ may enable students with IDD to participate independently in research with good completion rates and reliable responding.

KEYWORDS:

• Child report
• family
• intellectual disability
• mental health
• mental ill-health
• peer relations
• proxy
• school
• self-report measures

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the students, teachers, and parents involved in the WellSEQ project. A special thanks is given for the contributions made by Robert Fohlin and Anders Boström.

Funding

This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council Formas, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Swedish Research Council, and Sweden’s Innovation Agency VINNOVA.