The association between employment and the health of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review.

Publisher: Blackwell Science Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9613616 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1468-3148 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 13602322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Appl Res Intellect Disabil Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2000- > : Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science
Original Publication: Clevedon : BILD Publications, c1996-

Employment, Supported* ; Health Status* ; Intellectual Disability*; Employment ; Humans

Background: There is strong evidence indicating that paid employment is generally good for the physical and mental health of the general population. This systematic review considers the association between employment and the health of people with intellectual disabilities.
Methods: Studies published from 1990 to 2018 were identified via electronic literature databases, email requests and cross-citations. Identified studies were reviewed narratively.
Results: Twelve studies were identified. Studies were generally consistent in reporting an association between being in paid employment and better physical or mental health status.
Conclusions: This review supports the view that the well-established association between employment and better health is similar for adults with and without intellectual disabilities. However, evidence establishing causality is lacking and further research to determine specific health benefits attributable to employment for people with intellectual disabilities and the causal pathways that operate is required.
(© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

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Public Health England

Keywords: employment; health; intellectual disabilities

Date Created: 20190611 Date Completed: 20200305 Latest Revision: 20200305

20240104

10.1111/jar.12632

31180175