Predicting Functional Changes in Down Syndrome During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Biopsychosocial Determinants of Health

  1. Ester Jo
  2. Carla Wall
  3. Lindsay K. Allen
  4. Naomi Wheeler
  5. Nicole Baumer
  6. Allison D’Aguilar
  7. Timothy P. York
  8. George Capone
  9. Colleen Jackson-Cook
  10. Ananda B. Amstadter
  11. Ruth C. Brown
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Abstract

Background

Biopsychosocial factors associated with functional changes, including changes in personality, communication, movement, and weight, were evaluated in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

Caregivers of individuals with DS (aged ≥12, n = 118) completed an online survey. Elastic net regression with bootstrap resampling assessed 31 candidate predictors.

Results

Pandemic-related mental health was most strongly associated with functional changes (β = 0.388). Healthcare access barriers were also reliably selected: inability to access mental health treatment, difficulty affording insurance, difficulty accessing specialists, and residing in a low-income health professional shortage area. The model explained 35.2% of variance.

Conclusions

Mental health and healthcare access barriers were biopsychosocial correlates of functional changes for people with DS during COVID-19.

Article activity feed

  1. Version published to 10.64898/2026.05.19.26353577 on medRxiv