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Valuing e-inclusion: Social media and the social networks of adolescents with intellectual disabilities

White, Pamela, Forrester-Jones, Rachel (2019) Valuing e-inclusion: Social media and the social networks of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, . ISSN 1744-6295. (doi:10.1177/1744629518821240) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:52535)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication)
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629518821240

Abstract

Background:

Social media is a growing phenomenon, yet people with intellectual disability (ID) may not experience comparable access to this communication technology. Adolescents with ID may benefit from e-inclusion, especially as individuals with ID are at risk of having smaller social networks.

Materials and Methods:

The Social Network Guide was adapted to measure social media usage and used to examine the interpersonal relationships of adolescents with and without ID.

Results:

Adolescents with ID held smaller social networks with less developed informal relationships. However, friendship quality was comparable or superior to typically developing peers. Adolescents with ID interacted with a smaller percentage of contacts using social media. Social media use was predictive of the number of reported friendships and did not significantly predict critical comments.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest that adolescents with ID have comparable access to social media but use these sites to interact with a smaller number of social contacts.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/1744629518821240
Uncontrolled keywords: cyberbullying, Facebook, friendship, social media, social network
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Rachel Forrester-Jones
Date Deposited: 30 Nov 2015 13:59 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 17:34 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/52535 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Forrester-Jones, Rachel.

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