Who Are My Friends? The Friendship Networks of Adults With Intellectual Disability

BACKGROUND: This mixed methods study examined the social networks of adults with intellectual disability (ID), alongside a matched group of typically developing (TD) adults, with 'friends' defined from their perspectives. METHODS: Participants identified their friends among those they interacted with in their day-to-day and former contexts, and described what a friend meant to them. Quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated. RESULTS: Adults with ID had smaller friendship networks and less social support than TD adults. The majority of friends of ID and TD adults were from current and former contexts, respectively. Adults with ID defined a friend by knowing the person and doing shared actions/activities, whereas TD adults emphasised emotional support. CONCLUSION: Understanding the friendships of adults with ID requires attention to their perspectives. Their friendships are grounded in context-specific shared actions/activities with people they know, highlighting the importance of providing regular opportunities to engage with familiar others over time.