Evidence for the Protective and Compensatory Functions of Resilience in Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to engage in behavior problems than children without IDD. In the present study, we explored whether adverse life experiences and events were related to child behavioral and emotional problems. We also examined whether child resilience would act as a protective factor in this putative association between adverse experiences and child behavioral and emotional problems. Mothers of 310 children with IDD aged between 4 and 15 years old completed a cross-sectional online survey including measures of exposure to adverse life experiences, child resilience, and behavior and emotional problems. In moderated multiple regression models, we found that exposure to adverse life experiences had a positive association with child behavior problems and peer problems and that these associations were moderated by child resilience. Resilience served a protective function—lowering risk of problems for children exposed to adversity. Child resilience also served a compensatory function, being directly associated with fewer conduct and emotional problems and increased pro-social behavior. Child resilience may be an important factor in understanding the behavior and emotional problems of children with IDD. Further, especially longitudinal, research is needed. Interventions designed to increase children’s resilience may be beneficial for children with IDD