The Effect of Functional Balance, Cognitive Functions and the Risk of Fall on the Quality of Life in People with Intellectual Disabilities

Intellectual disability is defined as a significantly reduced ability to perceive new or complex information and to learn and apply new skills (intelligence impairment). Studies have shown several limitations in the mobility of people with intellectual disabilities, often due to the high prevalence of balance disorders in these individuals. Therefore, their balance is not as stable as that of normal people and they often experience a high risk of falling and physical, psychological and social injuries. Weak balance and frequent falls cause fear of falling and ultimately affect a person's quality of life, which reduces a person's independence and increases the ability to depend on others for daily activities. It reduces social interactions and the ability to control the life of the disabled person. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the factors that may increase the quality of life in this group. This study aimed to investigate the effect of functional balance, cognitive functions and the risk of fall on the quality of life in people with intellectual disabilities.

The present research was a descriptive–analytical study of correlational type conducted in 2021. The statistical population of the research comprised adults with intellectual disabilities aged 18–55 years. They belonged to the mild, moderate, or severe classification of disabilities and lived in the cities of Ardabil, Tabriz and Urmia, Iran. The statistical sample of this study included 61 adults with intellectual disabilities with a mean age of 34.31 years in Ardabil, Tabriz, and Urmia. They were selected by convenience sampling method. The data of this study were collected by the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL– BREF) (WHO, 1996), the Prudhoe Cognitive Function Test (PCFT) (Kay et al., 2003), The Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (JHFRAT) (Poe et al., 2007), and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) (Duncan and et al., 1990). To investigate the relationship between quality of life with functional balance, risk of fall and cognitive functions, the Pearson correlation method was used. To understand the contribution of each dimension to predict quality of life, the regression model was used for independent variable of functional balance.

The results showed a significant relationship between the variables of quality of life with functional balance (r=0.296, p=0.021). Also, 8.9% of changes on quality of life in people with intellectual disability are explained through functional balance.

According to the results, there is a positive and significant relationship between quality of life and functional balance. Also, it is possible to predict the quality of life through functional balance. Therefore, to improve the quality of life in people with intellectual disability it is suggested that counselors and therapists include the balance system rehabilitation and training in daily life activities in the treatment plans.