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Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Supporting young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to deliver a peer mentoring intervention:
Ariel Schwartz1, I-Ting Hwang2
1Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Background:
Peer-delivered interventions are a best practice in mental health, yet no such intervention exists for young adults (YA) with intellectual/developmental disabilities with co-occurring mental health conditions. We evaluated YA with intellectual/developmental disabilities' ability to deliver a novel peer mentoring intervention with fidelity and the supports received.
Methods:
We coded audio-recorded mentoring sessions to evaluate if 4 mentors adhered to 'content' (e.g., psychoeducation) and 'quality' (e.g., validation) fidelity criteria (codes: yes/no). We conducted content analysis of mentor support logs and interviews with mentors', mentors' parents and teachers to describe the supports mentors received.
Results:
Average fidelity for content criteria (M = 73.3%) was higher than quality criteria (M = 60.0%). Weekly support addressed logistics, delivering content, interpersonal interactions, emotional support, professionalism, and organisation. Family members and teachers rarely provided additional support.
Conclusions:
With support, YA can deliver a peer mentoring intervention addressing mental health. Additional training activities will be developed to improve fidelity.
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