The Relationship Between Self-Determination and Quality of Life for Adults with Mental Retardation

There is growing mindfulness in the fields of disability services, rehabilitation, education and psychology of the need to promote self-determination for individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, based at least partially on the importance of this outcome for people to experience an enhanced quality of life. In the present study data were collected on the quality of life and self-determination of 50 individuals with mental retardation, and data were analyzed, using discriminant function analysis and correlational analyses, to determine the contribution of self-determination to quality of life and examine the relationship between these constructs. People who reported a higher quality of life were also identified as more self-determined. The results support the continued effort to promote self-determination for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.