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Several cross‐sectional studies have shown an association between exposure to life events and psychological problems in adults with intellectual disability (ID). To establish life events as a risk factor, prospective designs are needed.

Support staff informants provided data on the psychological problems of 68 adults with ID and their recent exposure to life events. Using data collected on the same sample 3.5 to 4 years earlier, prospective analysis of the relationships between life events exposure and psychological problems over time was explored.

Hierarchical linear regression analyses demonstrated a contribution of life events to the prediction of later psychological problems after controlling for earlier psychological problems. Exploratory analyses showed that the relationship between life events and psychological problems might be unidirectional, and non‐spurious; remaining …