Comorbid mental illness and intellectual disability: impact on employment

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Objectives In the general population, studies have revealed that mental health concerns negatively impact employment. Research has also begun to reveal similar negative employment outcomes among individuals with an intellectual disability and co-occurring mental health disorder. This study sought to expand upon these findings and examine whether specific diagnoses relate to inclusive employment. Methods We conducted Chi-square tests to examine if reported diagnoses and challenging behaviors related to paid community employment among 378 individuals with an intellectual disability in Pennsylvania who participated in the Independent Monitoring for Quality program. We selected participants from a statewide database compiled via stratified random sampling and structured interview. Results We found statistically significant differences in community-based employment rates between those with and without a mood disorder (χ 2 (2) = 6.07; p = 0.01) and behavior challenges (χ 2 (2) = 5.04; p = 0.03). Anxiety disorders approached statistical significance (χ 2 (2) = 3.73; p = 0.05). Conclusions The significant relationships between employment and mental health is consistent with studies in the general population. We discuss diagnostic challenges and limitations of this study, proposing future research explore a transdiagnostic approach to targeting mental health concerns for those with an intellectual disability.