Learning disability adults social media experience - Covid-19

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with an intellectual disability: Experiences of social inclusion and social capital

• IRAS ID

  280131

• Contact name

  Laura Golding

• Contact email

  l.golding@liverpool.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Liverpool

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 9 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  Summary of Research
  What are the experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) taking part in social activities via social media, during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  This study aims to explore the experiences of social media use by adults with ID; during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings may inform clinical practice, assessment, psychological formulation, support/safeguarding interventions and future research; through increased understanding of the difficulties faced in relation to social media use, particularly with regard to the pandemic and social distancing measures. Such measures can have an adverse psychological impact including social isolation and uncertainty (Huremovic, 2019). Individuals with an ID are already identified as at risk of increased social exclusion.
  In 2001, UK government policy recognized difficulties that adults with ID face with the publication of Valuing People: A new strategy for Learning Disability in the 21st century (Department of Health, 2001). This publication highlights that the ID population is at an increased risk of social exclusion and, therefore, promotes increases in individuals’ rights, independence, choice and social inclusion (Department of Health, 2001).
  This study will recruit participants from the Community Adult Intellectual Disability National Health Service (NHS) teams, in North Cumbria’s caseload. To take part in this study, individuals will have a mild to moderate intellectual disability and identify as using social media; aged between 18 – 35 years. The study would take place between November 2020 and September 2021. Participants would complete a semi structured interview; maximum one hour. Interviews will be analysed using the qualitative method of Template Analysis.

  Summary of Results
  Social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic, among individuals with an intellectual disability: Experiences of social inclusion and social capital.
  To all the participants who agreed to take part and share their experiences. Thank you for your time and trust. I feel honoured to have heard you.
  Background
  This research study explores people with intellectual disabilities’ experiences of using social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the related social restrictions. Socialising is important in maintaining levels of well-being and social media is a way of enabling this. The areas explored included how use of social media impacts upon the ability and amount of people with intellectual disabilities to participate socially, barriers and difficulties to social interaction, self-esteem, and loneliness.
  Method
  This study was completed as partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool. A research proposal for the study was submitted to the University of Liverpool’s Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme’s Research Review Committee for peer review. Sponsorship from the University of Liverpool was sought and gained. Ethical approval was applied for and granted by the National Health Service Research and Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority. Permission was granted by a Research and Development team National Health Service Trust in the North of England that provides mental health and intellectual disability services, to complete the study.
  Two Experts by Experience with intellectual disabilities were consulted about the topic and design of the proposed study, including the development of easy read materials and the procedures. Eleven people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities were recruited from a semi-rural community adult intellectual disabilities service, provided by the UK National Health Service. A literature review was completed to inform an initial template of a priori codes, which was used to create a semi structured interview schedule. The interviews were analysed using ‘Template Analysis’.
  Results
  One overarching primary theme of self-determination was identified. There were four themes of cyber safety, vehicle of autonomy, accessibility, and sense of self. Three sub-themes were identified for each of the themes.
  Themes and sub-themes
  Cyber safety -Awareness of risk; Staying safe; Privacy
  
  Vehicle of Autonomy - Social media platforms; Maintaining existing relationships; Source of information
  
  Accessibility - Source of support; Access to social media; Cyber skills

  Sense of Self - The global self; The connect self; The packaged ideal self

  This study highlights that people with intellectual disabilities use social media to maintain social relationships, which appears to promote wellbeing through self-determination, as it supports autonomy and sense of self.
  The themes, vehicle of autonomy and sense of self suggest that social media has the potential to facilitate an increase in autonomy and self-concept. A key finding of this study is that people with intellectual disabilities appear not to use social media to expand their social networks. This study has highlighted that social media can be a tool to promote the self determination of people with intellectual disabilities. Through social media people with intellectual disabilities can exercise their autonomy and develop their sense of self and relatedness to others. Participants demonstrated an awareness of the risks of social media and have developed skills and support networks to help them maintain their safety. Participants in this study did not identify any barriers to accessing social media and further research could explore the reasons why some do not access or have limited access to social media. This study highlights how social media could potentially be a valuable tool in the health promotion among people with intellectual disabilities.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/WM/0039

• Date of REC Opinion

  19 Feb 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion