ERIC Number: EJ824863
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Feb
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0964-2633
EISSN: N/A
Physical Mobility Limitations in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review
Cleaver, S.; Hunter, D.; Ouellette-Kuntz, H.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, v53 n2 p93-105 Feb 2009
Background: Mobility limitations increase with age in the general population. Despite a growing population of older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), mobility is rarely studied in the ID literature. The specific aim of this study was to identify and summarise primary literature investigating mobility limitations in adults with ID. Methods: This study was a systematic review of the epidemiological literature (incidence and prevalence) of mobility limitations among adults with ID. Four electronic databases were searched from January 1980 to May 2007 for publications according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Additional sources were consulted. Two reviewers extracted data from each of the included articles. Results: Thirty-two publications representing 31 studies were ultimately included. In general, studies did not focus on mobility but were conducted for other purposes. All studies were conducted in industrialised countries. Only one study used a longitudinal design; the remainders were cross-sectional. Few investigators reported on the representativeness of the sample or the validity of the measurement tool. Study samples differed substantially and investigators used numerous definitions of mobility limiting comparability between studies. Conclusions: There is a need for increased research on mobility limitations among adults with ID, particularly longitudinal research. Researchers investigating mobility limitations should use validated measurement tools and offer detailed descriptions of the study sample and how it compares with an identifiable population.
Descriptors: Mental Retardation, Physical Mobility, Physical Disabilities, Aging (Individuals), Older Adults, Literature Reviews, Epidemiology, Incidence, Research Methodology, Sampling
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Publication Type: Information Analyses; Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A