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Examining the Social Support Networks of Parents of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Authors:
Kelli Sanderson at California State University System
Kelli Sanderson
Jennifer L. Bumble at American Institutes for Research
Jennifer L. Bumble
Meghan Burke at Vanderbilt University
Meghan Burke
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Abstract and Figures

Many parents are the primary caregivers for their adult children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). But who do parents of adult children with IDD turn to for help? For this study, 518 parents of adult children with IDD completed a national online survey. We examined the social support networks of parents of adults with IDD, including members of their support networks and satisfaction with network members. Findings indicate that parents of adults with IDD have few types of supporters within their support networks. Parents reported varying levels of satisfaction with support received from network members, though they were most highly satisfied with support received from their child’s other parent. The strongest correlates of network variety (having more types of supporters within parents’ social network) were greater satisfaction with spousal support and larger household incomes. The strongest correlates of parent satisfaction with their social support network included parents who were in better physical health, identifying as Black, having more friends with disabilities, and having more supporters in their social support network. Our findings highlight the significant role that positive spousal relationships play in the social support networks of parents of adult children with IDD and underscore the need to strengthen the social support networks of families of adults with IDD, particularly those from marginalized groups.
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-024-09998-w
Abstract
Many parents are the primary caregivers for their adult children with intellectual
and developmental disabilities (IDD). But who do parents of adult children with
IDD turn to for help? For this study, 518 parents of adult children with IDD com-
pleted a national online survey. We examined the social support networks of parents
of adults with IDD, including members of their support networks and satisfaction
with network members. Findings indicate that parents of adults with IDD have few
types of supporters within their support networks. Parents reported varying levels of
satisfaction with support received from network members, though they were most
highly satised with support received from their child’s other parent. The strongest
correlates of network variety (having more types of supporters within parents’ so-
cial network) were greater satisfaction with spousal support and larger household
incomes. The strongest correlates of parent satisfaction with their social support
network included parents who were in better physical health, identifying as Black,
having more friends with disabilities, and having more supporters in their social
support network. Our ndings highlight the signicant role that positive spousal
relationships play in the social support networks of parents of adult children with
IDD and underscore the need to strengthen the social support networks of families
of adults with IDD, particularly those from marginalized groups.
Keywords Intellectual and developmental disabilities · Social support · Families
Accepted: 8 November 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
2024
Examining the Social Support Networks of Parents of
Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Kelli A.Sanderson1· Jennifer L.Bumble2· Meghan M.Burke3,4
Kelli A. Sanderson
Kelli.Sanderson@csulb.edu
1 Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling, California State University Long Beach,
1250 Bellower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803, United States of America
2 American Institutes on Research, Arlington, VA, United States of America
3 Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, Nashville, TN,
United States of America
4 Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States of America
1 3
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