RISK FACTORS FOR BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS IN  CHILDREN WITH MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Katarina Tomić; Goran Mihajlović; Slobodan Janković; Nela Đonović; Natalija Jovanović-Mihajlović; Vladimir Diligenski

doi:10.5937/sjecr13-1698

Katarina Tomić Vocational College for Preschool Teachers, Kruševac, Serbia
Goran Mihajlović University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Medical Faculty
Slobodan Janković University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Medical Faculty
Nela Đonović University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Medical Faculty
Natalija Jovanović-Mihajlović Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Department of Neurology
Vladimir Diligenski Clinical Centre ’’Dr Dragiša Mišović’’, Dedinje, Department of Psychiatry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/sjecr13-1698

Keywords: internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders, intellectual disability, Behavior,

Abstract

Introduction: This paper investigates the prevalence and characteristics of behavioral and emotional disorders in children with mild intellectual disability, as well as their relations with personal and socio-demographic factors as potential predictors.
Objective: Main objective of this research was to determine the impact of socio-demographic and personal factors on prevalence and types of emotional and behavioral disorders in children with mild intellectual disabilitiy.
Methods: Non-experimental research was conducted on 311 children with mild intellectual disability, students of 8 special primary schools in central and south-west Serbia, aged 9-18. For the assessment of psychipathology we used the Checklist of problem behaviors in children aged 6-18, the CBCL - TRF (Child Behavior Checklist - Teacher Report Form). To collect data on socio-demographic status we created a Questionnaire of socio-economic factors and demografic indicators. Informants were classroom teachers.
Results: There was an increased incidence of behavioral and emotional disorders in children with mild intellectual disability compared to children of average intelligence. Both dimensions of psychopathology were significantly influenced by personal and socio-demographic variables: age, gender, academic achievement, type of the child's palcement, level of education and employment of parents, as well as the structure and socio-economic status of the families.
Conclusion: Children with intellectual disability are at increased risk of developing psychopathology, mostly from the dimension of adjustment and behavioral disorders, which is influenced by their specific developmental and psychological characteristics and social learning difficulties, as well as a number of adverse socio-demografic effects.
Keywords: intellectual disability, internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders.