Mindset in adults with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Abstract. Mindset refers to a belief system designing how people can learn, think, adapt and behave in society. Previous research shows that a growth mindset empowers learning, competence and flexibility to adapt more than a fixed mindset, but little is known about how functions the mindset of adults with intellectual disabilities. In this chapter we propose to characterize the mindset of adults with intellectual disabilities, in terms of fixed mindset vs growth mindset. Participants were adults with mild intellectual disabilities (ID-MID) (N=25), and adults with moderate intellectual disabilities (ID-MED) (N=21). They answered the questionnaire - Mindset tool for learner with intellectual disability (MTL). Adults with ID-MID presented a more flexible mindset to cope with novelty and barriers and difficulties in the workplace, as well as to cope with social interactions that involves new friendship. Adults with ID-MED demonstrated more fixed beliefs about learning, behavior and competence. These results reinforce the advantage to improve a growth mindset in interventions with adults with intellectual disabilities as a way to promote inclusion.