“Naming it Improves the Story”: An Inclusive Study of Life Experiences in Borderline Intellectual Functioning

Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) describes a large but under-recognized population who often experience significant everyday difficulties while remaining excluded from diagnostic and support systems. Despite growing evidence on cognitive and adaptive profiles, a minimal amount is known about how individuals with BIF understand their own lives. This study aimed to explore these experiences using an inclusive qualitative approach. Twenty-five adults with BIF participated in seven group interviews, analyzed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis within a collaborative framework involving researchers with and without lived experience. Six interrelated themes were identified, addressing violence, mental health, diagnosis, identity, lived difficulties, and the role of support. Findings show that violence and exclusion are pervasive features of participants' life trajectories and connected their mental health difficulties with accumulated experiences of exclusion and lack of support. Diagnosis was often experienced as a turning point that facilitated meaning-making and access to support. Participants highlight both non-belonging and self-awareness, while emphasizing their capabilities and aspirations, underscoring the central role of support systems.