Factors affecting decision-making by young adults with intellectual disabilities

Young adults with intellectual disabilities were placed into high and low learned helplessness groups based on their responses to a self-report questionnaire. Within each group participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions for presentation of vignettes depicting decision-making situations: vignette only; vignette plus two options; and vignette plus the same two options, each with one positive and one negative consequence. Participants were asked to say what they would do in the situation and to give a reason. Responses were judged according to criteria based on theories of rational decision-making. Low learned helplessness participants obtained significantly higher decision-making scores. Additional information about options or options plus consequences was not beneficial for either group. Implications for providing training and experiences in decision-making are discussed.