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Psychometric Properties and Utility of the Social Vulnerability Questionnaire for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

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Abstract

Although it is well-known that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are socially vulnerable, the field lacks valid assessments to identify risk factors for victimization. Parents/caregivers of 428 individuals with IDD (ages 12–53) completed the social vulnerability questionnaire (SVQ), a measure developed to assess specific aspects of social vulnerability among individuals with various forms of IDD. This study examined the psychometric structure of the SVQ (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), and the utility of the factors of the SVQ as predictors of diagnostic category (through discriminate function analysis). Results provide psychometric support for use of the SVQ and its factors for further research and as part of a clinical assessment battery to assess social vulnerability and to develop interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Michigan State University, 620 Farm Lane, Erickson 340, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Marisa H. Fisher & Cynde K. Josol

  2. Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech, 309 Wallace Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Carolyn M. Shivers

Authors
  1. Marisa H. Fisher
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  2. Carolyn M. Shivers
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Contributions

MHF developed the SVQ, conceptualized the study, coordinated participant recruitment and data collection, and drafted the manuscript. CMS coordinated data analysis and interpretation and assisted with drafting the manuscript. CKJ provided critical revision of the article. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marisa H. Fisher.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University Institutional Review Board and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

The current study was determined exempt by the University Institutional Review Board. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study prior to completing the online questionnaire.

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Fisher, M.H., Shivers, C.M. & Josol, C.K. Psychometric Properties and Utility of the Social Vulnerability Questionnaire for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 2348–2359 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3636-4

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