Prevalence of and relationship between adverse childhood experiences and family context risk factors among children with intellectual disabilities and borderline intellectual functioning

Jessica Vervoort-Schel; Gabriëlle Mercera; Inge Wissink; Peer Van der Helm; Ramón Lindauer; Xavier Moonen

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103935

Prevalence of and relationship between adverse childhood experiences and family context risk factors among children with intellectual disabilities and borderline intellectual functioning

Res Dev Disabil. 2021 Jun:113:103935. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103935. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Authors

Jessica Vervoort-Schel¹, Gabriëlle Mercera², Inge Wissink³, Peer Van der Helm⁴, Ramón Lindauer⁵, Xavier Moonen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Koraal Centre of Expertise, De Hondsberg, Hondsberg 5, 5062 JT Oisterwijk, the Netherlands; Department of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: jvervoort@koraal.nl.
² Koraal Centre of Expertise, De Hondsberg, Hondsberg 5, 5062 JT Oisterwijk, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Vijverdalseweg 1, 6226 NB Maastricht, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁴ Expert Centre Social Work and Applied Psychology, Professional University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Zernikedreef 11, 2333 CK Leiden, the Netherlands; Fier, National Expertise and Treatment Centre, Holstmeerweg 1, 8936 AS Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁵ Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Levvel, Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁶ Koraal Centre of Expertise, De Hondsberg, Hondsberg 5, 5062 JT Oisterwijk, the Netherlands; Department of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

PMID: 33756254
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103935

Abstract

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are an overlooked risk factor for behavioural, mental and physical health disparities in children with intellectual disabilities (ID) and borderline intellectual functioning (BIF).

Aims: To gain insight into the presence of the 10 original Wave II ACEs and family context risk variables in a convenience sample of children with ID and BIF in Dutch residential care.

Methods and procedures: 134 case-files of children with ID (n = 82) and BIF (n = 52) were analysed quantitatively.

Outcomes and results: 81.7 % of the children with ID experienced at least 1 ACE, as did 92.3 % of the children with BIF. The average number of ACEs in children with ID was 2.02 (range 0-8) and in children with BIF 2.88 (range 0-7). About 20 % of the children with moderate and mild ID experienced 4 ACEs or more. Many of their families faced multiple and complex problems (ID: 69.5 %; BIF 86.5 %). Multiple regression analysis indicated an association between family context risk variables and the number of ACEs in children.

Conclusions and implications: The prevalence of ACEs in children with ID and BIF appears to be considerably high. ACEs awareness in clinical practice is vital to help mitigate negative outcomes.

Keywords: Adverse Childhood Experiences; Borderline intellectual functioning; Children; Family problems; Intellectual disabilities; Residential care.

MeSH terms

Adverse Childhood Experiences*
Child
Humans
Intellectual Disability* / epidemiology
Learning Disabilities*
Prevalence
Risk Factors