Som – Fundació has collaborated on a study by Asociación Liber that analyzes the main complexity factors of people we support. This study reveals that 64.4% of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities supported by organizations present one to three complexity factors simultaneously, according to the report Complexity Factors in Decision-Making Support. The study examines the main challenges in providing support to ensure the full exercise of this group’s rights.
Key Challenges
The most common complexity factors are:
- Chronic illnesses (42.7%).
- Adverse relational environments (28.3%).
- Behavioral disorders (26.5%).
These circumstances complicate planning the necessary supports, especially in the most severe cases. The report highlights that 11.8% of individuals accumulate four or more complexity factors, while 23.7% present no active factors.
Youth: A Particularly Vulnerable Period
The data show that accumulated complexity is more common in younger individuals:
- 33.1% of people aged 18 to 44 face three or more simultaneous factors.
- This proportion decreases to 21.7% for those aged 45 to 64 and 19.2% for those over 65.
On the other hand, older individuals are more likely to have no complexity factors or just one. This highlights that youth is a particularly critical stage where adapted support is most necessary.
Differences Between Women and Men
The report also reveals a significant gender influence on complexity factors:
- Chronic illnesses and adverse environments are more frequent in women (43.9% and 30.5%, respectively) than in men (41.7% and 26.5%).
- Conversely, addictive behaviors affect men (12.3%) more than women (6.5%).
These data emphasize the need to tailor support considering gender differences and associated specific issues.
Towards Providing Support Adapted to Reality
The study highlights the importance of incorporating complexity factors into support planning. Ensuring tailored care is essential to promote the well-being and full inclusion of people with disabilities.
In this regard, an intervention protocol to manage behavioral disorders was presented, developed by Mayte Peña, a psychologist at FUTUCAM. This protocol offers guidelines for addressing critical situations and emphasizes preventive intervention in each case.
A Report to Improve Support Provision
The full report and its accessible summaries are now available online. This work was made possible thanks to funding from 0.7% of the national income tax allocated to general interest programs and the collaboration of organizations such as Som – Fundació, Fundación Aragonesa Luis de Azúa, Fundación de Apoyos Cantabria, Fundación Canaria Sonsoles Soriano Bugnion, FUTUCAM, FUTUDIS, Fundación Kyrios de apoyo personal, FUTUMAD which contributed data and expertise to make this research possible.
For more information about the study, click here.