The Role of Thriving in Well-Being Among Youth and Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have been found to be at a greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aspects of thriving have been suggested to buffer against negative outcomes among youth and young adults without IDD. Ecological resources have been linked to thriving and the experience of fewer mental health problems. The current study examined how thriving may mediate the association between ecological resources in the community and mental health problems among youth and adults with IDD, and if it acts as a protective factor in the face of COVID-19 stressors. The sample consisted of caregivers of 171 youth and adults with IDD ages 12 to 35. A mediation analysis revealed that community resources were negatively associated with mental health problems and thriving partially mediated this association. The moderation analysis revealed that although thriving did not moderate the positive association between COVID-19 stressors and mental health problems, thriving was negatively associated with mental health problems. Our findings suggest that community resources and thriving may be important targets for mental health supports for people with IDD.