Social Psychiatry, Vol. 49 No. 2, 2021.
Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2021.113
Use of YP-CORE Questionnaire in the Assessment of Mental Health of Children with Intellectual Difficulties
Nataša Tomljanović
; Centre for Education and Teaching Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Nataša Jokić-Begić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Children and young people with intellectual disabilities are primarily characterized by a reduced level of intellectual as
well as emotional and social functioning. Persons with intellectual disabilities lag behind in the acquisition of academic
knowledge, learning and the acquisition of social skills. Knowing the aspects of cognitive functioning of children with
intellectual disabilities, it is possible to predict risk factors for the development of behavioural difficulties and mental
health disorders. However, it is difficult to determine the level or, at least, the presence of mental disabilities due to the
lack of standardized tests to assess mental health in children and young people with intellectual disabilities. Experts who
work with persons with intellectual disabilities warn of their often impaired mental health. The aim of the research was to
determine the applicability of the YP-CORE questionnaire for assessing psychological distress in children and young people
with intellectual disabilities. The survey was conducted with students of the Centre for Education and Teaching in Rijeka
on a sample of 59 children and young people aged 7 to 21 years. The obtained results are in line with previous research
indicating that 30% of children and young people with intellectual disabilities have severe mental disabilities. Although
our results correspond to those obtained in other studies, there are difficulties in applying the questionnaire, especially in
people with moderate intellectual disabilities. However, the results are encouraging in terms of validity, which should be
the subject of further research in the future.
Keywords
Intellectual Disturbances; Risk factors for Mental Health; YP-CORE Questionnaire; Application Difficulties
Hrčak ID:
270777
URI
Publication date:
14.1.2022.
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