Thriving for Adolescents With Intellectual Disability: A Photo‐Elicitation Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: There has been a shift in recent decades towards studying the strengths of people with intellectual disability to promote wellbeing. This study developed a conceptualisation of thriving specific to adolescents with intellectual disability. METHOD: A photo-elicitation qualitative design was used. Participants were 12 adolescents (ages 12-19) with a diagnosis of intellectual disability and their parents. Adolescents and their parents separately chose photos demonstrating thriving for the adolescent. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. RESULTS: Reflexive thematic analysis was used. Five core themes that interact and contribute to thriving were developed: Enjoying Life, Developing, Having a Positive Sense of Self, Connecting, and Mattering. Parents also identified the importance of adolescents being Safe & Supported. CONCLUSIONS: This thriving framework can serve as a guiding template for community supports and future quantitative research studies for adolescents with intellectual disability.