Analysis of Factors Affecting Early Aging in People with Developmental Disabilities

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors contributing to early aging, characterized by the decline in physical and mental functions, in individuals with developmental disabilities. Using raw data from the “Survey on the Work and Life of People with Developmental Disabilities,” random forest and logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors influencing early aging. The findings are categorized into five key factors as follows: First, sociodemographic factors, including ‘participant age’ and ‘monthly household income,’ were found to be significant. Second, physical and biological factors, such as ‘job capability’ and ‘activities of daily living (ADL),’ emerged as key variables. Third, cognitive and adaptive behavior factors identified ‘understanding the meaning of work and income’ as a significant predictor. Fourth, psychological and emotional factors included ‘current or future employment intention.’. Lastly, environmental and service accessibility factors highlighted ‘primary caregiver (mother)’ and ‘recent experiences in cultural activities such as cinemas, concerts, museums, or theme parks’ as important variables. Notably, variables related to employment, such as ‘monthly household income,’ ‘job capability,’ ‘understanding the meaning of work and income,’ and ‘current or future employment intention,’ were shown to have significant statistical associations with early aging. These findings underscore the critical importance of vocational rehabilitation in promoting healthy aging for individuals with developmental disabilities. Therefore, systematic vocational rehabilitation programs and supportive policies to sustain and expand employment opportunities for this population are essential.