Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

Spirituality and social networks of people with intellectual and developmental disability

  • Precious Sango
    ,
  • Rachel Forrester-Jones
  • University of Kent
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

Background: Researchers contend that religious and spiritual communities may provide a conduit to friendship for people with IDD. This research explored the interface between social networks and spirituality for individuals with IDD living in either a faith or non-faith based service. Method: A mixed-methods approach was used including semi-structured interviews, the Social Network Guide and the Spiritual Belief Inventory-15R with individuals with IDD (or staff members who provided their opinions of what individuals who lacked capacity to consent would say if they had capacity). These findings were corroborated with extensive field notes generated from participant observation. Results: The faith-based group had a higher network size (m = 78) compared to the non-faith based group (m = 44). Those with larger social networks also reported higher SBI-15R scores. Conclusion: Findings highlight the possible role of social, religious and spiritual activities for expanding individuals’ social networks.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 274-284

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (Volume 43, Issue 3)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 24/05/2017

Publication status

Published - 24/05/2017

ISSN

1366-8250

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625313
  • Scopus: 85019698109

Access to documents

Publication metrics