1. Health during transition to adulthood in the population with learning disabilities: analysis of Scotland’s Census (2011)
Ms Genevieve Young-Southward1, Professor Chris Philo2, Professor Sally-Ann Cooper1
1University of Glasgow, Institute of Health and Wellbeing
2University of Glasgow, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Introduction
Transition refers to the movement from childhood to adulthood, including leaving school, and moving from child to adult health and social services. While poor outcomes for the population with learning disabilities across the domains of social relationships, independent living; and community involvement are well documented, there is a lack of evidence related to the impact that transition may have on health and wellbeing in this population
Research Questions
Does transition to adulthood affect health and wellbeing in young people with learning disabilities, and in what particular ways?
Is the impact of transition on health similar or different for the population with learning disabilities compared to the population without learning disabilities?
Methods
The number of individuals with and without learning disabilities reporting various health conditions were calculated:
by age group (13-18 years: ‘pre-transition’; or years: ‘post-transition’)
by gender
Differences were compared using chi square tests
Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for each health variable
Design
Secondary analysis of Scotland’s Census (2011): a cross-sectional survey of the whole population of Scotland
The Population
Of the 815,819 people aged years, 5,556 reported having learning disabilities
The population with learning disabilities comprised 3,396 males (61.1%) and 2,160 females (38.9%)
The population without learning disabilities comprised 407,962 males (50.3%) and 402,371 females (49.7%)
Results
The population with learning disabilities had worse health than the population without learning disabilities (OR = , 95% CI – ) (Figure 1)
In the population with learning disabilities, women had worse health than men (OR = 1.144, 95% CI – 1.275) (Figure 2)
In the population with learning disabilities, people aged years were more likely to report mental health conditions than those aged years (OR 1.432, 95% CI – 1.646) (Figure 3)
Figure 1: General health ratings in the populations with and without learning disabilities
Figure 2: General health ratings in the population with learning disabilities by gender
Figure 3: Mental health conditions in the population with learning disabilities by age group
Conclusions
Transition to adulthood may have a negative effect on mental health in the population with learning disabilities
Women in particular must be supported during transition in order to prevent widening the health equality gap
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