Exploring Adverse Life Experiences of Adults with ID

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Exploring Adverse Life Experiences of Adults with Intellectual Disability

  • IRAS ID

    318586

  • Contact name

    Angela Bootes

  • Contact email

    angela.bootes@nhs.scot

  • Sponsor organisation

    The University of Edinburgh

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 2 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    Trauma is defined as an event that causes significant distress, this most often refers to sexual or physical abuse. However, other negative events within a person's life can be experienced as traumatic e.g. the death of a loved one or living in poverty; these are referred to as adverse life experiences.

    Research shows that people with Intellectual Disabilities (PwID) are more likely to experience trauma, and some studies have explored the views of PwID about their trauma experiences. However, there is little research that explores the views of PwID about their adverse life experiences.

    PwID are likely to see the world differently from those who do not have an ID. By understanding their unique experiences, research can better understand what kinds of support PwID need.

    Participants will be recruited from Dumfries and Galloway and will be a client of the ID team. Participants will engage in 1 session lasting approximately 90 minutes. There will be 3 stages to the session; consent, main interview, and check-in. The main interview will include a definition of what the research is looking at, there will be 6 core questions plus sub-questions, alongside prompt questions if needed. The session will be recorded and later transcribed and analyzed.

    The researcher will look for similarities and differences in what the adults with ID have said through analysis. These similarities and differences will be grouped into themes; the themes will describe the main points made by the adults about their views of adverse life experiences. Participants will be invited to a debrief session to review the themes identified and make sure the lead researcher has understood the points they have made.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/WM/0122

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Aug 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion