Disobedient behaviours in children with intellectual disability

Background Teacher reports of disobedient behaviours in children with intellectual disability noted in previous investigations represent a mismatch with the typical personality profile associated with intellectual disability. We hypothesise that this contradiction arises from the frustration experienced by children with intellectual disability when faced with tasks inappropriate for their mental age. Method Children with mild to moderate intellectual disability attempted two tasks, one level-appropriate and the other level-inappropriate for their mental age. Results were scored on a Disobedient Behaviour Checklist. Results Compared to both the mental age and chronological age comparison groups, children with intellectual disability showed increased disobedient behaviours when faced with the level-inappropriate task, but showed no significant differences on the level-appropriate task. Conclusions Children with intellectual disability may be no more likely to misbehave in classroom settings than children without disability, provided children with intellectual disability receive instruction that is sensitive and appropriate to their ability level.