Peers for better or for worse? Understanding susceptibility to peer influence in adolescents with mild-to-borderline intellectual disability

Adolescents with Mild-to-Borderline Intellectual Disability (MBID) are characterized by mild limitations in their adaptive and cognitive functioning, combined with a mild intellectual disability (IQ between 50 and 70) or borderline intellectual functioning (IQ between 70 and 85). These adolescents seem more susceptible to peer influences than adolescents without MBID, which could contribute to their heightened daily-life risk taking. This dissertation aims to better understand which adolescents with MBID are particularly susceptible to these negative peer influences, under which circumstances, and why this would be the case. Also, it is studied how we can effectively support adolescents with MBID to show more resistance to peer influence. Moreover, a heightened susceptibility to peer influence could also be positive for adolescents with MBID and therefore it is studied whether peer influence can increase their prosocial behavior. Finally, to provide a broader perspective on the topic of susceptibility to peer influence of adolescents with MBID, a meta-review on the typical development and socialization of self-regulation from infancy to adolescence is presented.