The feasibility of daily monitoring in adolescents and young adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning

J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2023 Jul;36(4):847-858. doi: 10.1111/jar.13102. Epub 2023 Apr 18.

Abstract

Background: It is unclear whether the limitations of young persons with a mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning preclude feasibility of the daily diary method.

Method: For 60 consecutive days, 50 participants (Mage = 21.4, 56% male) who receive care in an ambulatory, residential, or juvenile detention setting, self-rated both standardised and personalised diary questions through an app. Diary entries were used for feedback in treatment. Interviews were used to explore acceptability.

Results: Average compliance was 70.4%, while 26% of participants dropped out. Compliance was good in ambulatory (88.9%) and residential care (75.6%), but not in the juvenile detention setting (19.4%). The content of self-selected diary items varied widely. Participants deemed the method acceptable.

Conclusions: Daily monitoring is feasible for individuals with a mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning receiving ambulatory or residential care, and can provide scientists and practitioners with important insights into day-to-day behavioural patterns.

Keywords: adolescents; daily diary; ecological momentary assessment; feasibility; mild intellectual disability; personalised monitoring.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Diaries as Topic*
  • Ecological Momentary Assessment
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Feedback, Psychological
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability* / psychology
  • Intellectual Disability* / therapy
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Mobile Applications
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Patient Dropouts
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult