Page 91 - Social networks of people with mild intellectual disabilities: characteristics and interventions

Comparison of Social Networks
et al., 2004). Looking at the MSNA, in which important network members,
according to the person, are listed and scored on a number of characteristics, a
more detailed picture emerges. People with ASD have fewer informal network
members listed on their MSNA compared to the REF group, especially fewer
family members. On the other hand, people with ID have more professionals
listed on their MSNA compared to both the ASD as the REF group. Remarkably,
the people with ID did not have significantly fewer informal network members
on their MSNA, although they did have fewer members on their ecogram. This
can be explained by the fact that the people with ID put almost all network
members from the ecogram on their MSNA, whereas people with ASD, and
especially people from the REF group, were more selective. This emphasizes the
statement in the introduction section that the measures used are of importance
in calculating the size of a social network. Due to its comprehensiveness, the
MSNA seems to measure the quality of the most important relationships 4 more than the actual size of the network. In future research we recommend
using both the MSNA and the ecogram. In this study the family was mapped in a genogram and not included in the ecogram. In future research it is also recommended to add important family members to the ecogram, in order to get a complete and accurate picture of the social network size.
In addition, other network characteristics, satisfaction and wishes with respect to the network were compared, showing both similarities and differences. Both people with ID as people with ASD felt greater affection and preference for their professional network members compared to the REF group. This can be explained by differences in the nature of this professional support. For people with ID and ASD this support is necessary for daily life, while the REF group often meant the manager or supervisor at work. In actual practice it is important that staff members are aware of their importance in the lives of people with ID or ASD. People with ID or ASD were less often satisfied with their network and more often neutral than the REF group.
Although people with ASD varied widely in their perceptions of the quantity and meaning of their social connections, there were some common factors. People with ASD were more often dissatisfied, especially with their network of acquaintances. People with ASD experienced less practical and informational support from their acquaintances. They wished to expand their network of acquaintances and to improve the quality of their contact with family, instead of having more frequent contact with them. People with ASD
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