Examining the Predictors of Life Satisfaction in College Students With Intellectual Disability

Young adults with intellectual disability (ID) are increasingly attending college through inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) programmes. However, little is known about their psychological experiences at college. The current study aimed to examine the role of belongingness, anxiety and depressive symptoms in predicting life satisfaction for college students with ID enrolled in IPSE programmes at 4-year American colleges and universities.

College students with ID (n = 129) from 21 IPSE programmes across the United States completed an online survey reporting on mental health symptoms, belongingness and life satisfaction. Programme staff (n = 21) from each of the IPSE programmes also completed an online survey providing information about their programmes.

Results of the study indicated that there were significant differences in life satisfaction and level of anxiety based on gender, residential status and access to mental health services. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that belongingness was significantly associated with life satisfaction and accounted for 12.5% additional variance in life satisfaction, above and beyond the variance accounted for by race, ethnicity, residential status and mental health symptoms.

This study provides information on the well-being of college students with ID attending IPSE programmes, indicating high rates of mental health symptoms along with the role played by their sense of belonging in relation to their reported life satisfaction.