Relazione tra intelligenza e comportamento adattivo in adulti con disabilità intellettiva istituzionalizzati e non istituzionalizzati.

Relationship between intelligence and adaptive behaviour in institutionalised and non institutionalised adults with intellectual disabilities Doctoral thesis by: Perla Valentini Supervisor: Michela Sarlo Cosupervisor: Carmen Belacchi The diagnosis of Intellectual Disability ( requires the assessment of both cognitive and adaptive functioning (DSM 5). Little is known about the evolution of these levels of functi oning in adults with DI, nor how much and how they are interrelated. This research is aimed to make a contribution to the scarce evidence in the literature by investigating the development of intellect and adaptive behaviour in Italian adults with DI. 94 adults with DI (37 M, 57 F, average age of 38 years, range 18 64), of whom 47 institutionalised and 47 non institutionalised, were administered the WAIS IV Scale and the CPMs for the assessment of cognitive level, the ENB 2 battery for the assessment of neuropsychological functions and a test of definitional skills for the assessment of language competencies to the respective caregivers/educators we re administered the Vineland II Survey Form scales. Non parametric analyses were conducted to identify the role of the following variables age, gender, schooling and living context, association between cognitive level and adaptation. Among the main results, it emerged that the degree of disability (total IQ WAIS IV scale) tends to worsen over the course of life, mainly characterised as medium grade ( and severe ( Consistent ly with other scientific evidence s with the increasing age, has been found a significant decline in all cognitive indices with greater deterioration of the fluid components of intelligence, which, as occurs in old age, tend to deteriorate earlier than the crystallised components. Schooling presents a positive association with all the skills investigated, conf irming its potential protective role in mental deterioration in both typical and atypical ageing. Significantly higher performance also emerged in adults with DI who live with their families, compared to those attending day centres and in males compared to females. Correlation indices between cognitive and adaptive behaviour measures were high (r between .63 and with cognitive skills having a greater influence on C A levels than CA on intellectual performances With respect to the definitional competence, all subscales and the Total Scale of the WABS II were found to be predicted by this metalinguistic and meta representational ability which could constitute a specific facilitator of adaptation, all owing to share mental representations.