The lifestyle behaviours of young adults with intellectual disabilities as they transition from school to adulthood: a pilot and feasibility study.

Mitchell, Fiona; Stevens, Gemma; Jahoda, Andrew; Matthews, Lynsay; Hankey, Catherine; Murray, Heather; Melville, Craig

Abstract

Background: In the general population, the transition from adolescence to adulthood has been identified as a 'high-risk' period for weight gain. There has been no research examining health behaviours over this transition in adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods/design: The feasibility of recruitment, retention and relevant health behaviours were measured in 31 adolescents with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities. Anthropometric, objective physical activity, dietary and self-determination measures were collected over a 12-month transitional period from school to adulthood. Results: Key results suggest weight and BMI increased significantly from month 6 to month 12 (p = 0.044 and p = 0.043). Waist circumference increased significantly from baseline to month 12 (p = 0.049), and from month 6 to month 12 (p = 0.03). Discussion: Recruiting and retaining young adults with intellectual disabilities over a 12-month health behaviour study is feasible. The data indicate the transition from school to adulthood may be the start of a high-risk period for weight gain.

Citation

MITCHELL, F., STEVENS, G., JAHODA, A., MATTHEWS, L., HANKEY, C., MURRAY, H. and MELVILLE, C. 2018. The lifestyle behaviours of young adults with intellectual disabilities as they transition from school to adulthood: a pilot and feasibility study. Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities [online], 31(6), pages 1154-1163. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12489

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 23, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 28, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2018
• Deposit Date: Aug 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 29, 2019
• Journal: Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
• Print ISSN: 1360-2322
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-3148
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1154-1163
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12489
• Keywords: Diet; Intellectual disabilities; Lifestyle behaviours; Physical activity; Transition; Weight gain prevention
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/3064
• Contract Date: Aug 13, 2018