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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Day occupation is associated with psychopathology for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome

Authors: Kitty-Rose Foley, Peter Jacoby, Stewart Einfeld, Sonya Girdler, Jenny Bourke, Vivienne Riches, Helen Leonard

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Young adults with Down syndrome experience increased rates of emotional and behavioural problems compared with the general population. Most adolescents with Down syndrome living in Western Australia participate in sheltered employment as their main day occupation. Relationship between day occupation and changes in behaviour has not been examined. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore any relationship between post school day occupations and changes in the young person’s behaviour.

Methods

The Down syndrome Needs Opinion Wishes database was used for case ascertainment of young adults aged 15 to 32 years with Down syndrome. Families of 118 young people in this population-based database completed questionnaires in 2004, 2009 and 2011. The questionnaires addressed both young person characteristics such as age, gender, presence of impairments, behaviour, functioning in activities of daily living, and family characteristics such as income and family functioning. Post-school day occupations in which the young people were participating included open and sheltered employment, training and day recreation programs. Change in behaviour of young adults who remained in the same post-school day occupation from 2009 to 2011 (n = 103) were examined in a linear regression model adjusting for confounding variables including age, gender, prior functioning and behaviour in 2004 and family income.

Results

In comparison to those young adults attending open employment from 2009 to 2011, those attending day recreation programs were reported to experience worsening in behaviour both in the unadjusted (effect size −0.14, 95% CI −0.24, −0.05) and adjusted models (effect size −0.15, 95% CI −0.29, −0.01).

Conclusions

We found that the behaviour of those participating in open employment improved compared to those attending other day occupations. Further examination of the direction of this association is required.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Day occupation is associated with psychopathology for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome
Authors
Kitty-Rose Foley
Peter Jacoby
Stewart Einfeld
Sonya Girdler
Jenny Bourke
Vivienne Riches
Helen Leonard
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-014-0266-z

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