Self‐determination, social abilities and the quality of life of people with intellectual disability

Nota, Laura; Ferrari, Lea; Soresi, Salvatore; Wehmeyer, Michael L.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00939.x

Cited by 286 publications

(242 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This stance reflects a need to respond to the historical experiences of many people with disabilities in being excluded from decision making [72] and research highlighting the role of decision-making participation in identity development and personal well-being. [73][74][75] By exploring the experiences of adults with severe TBI, this study provides further evidence of the importance of decision-making participation through its contribution to the dynamic process of self-conceptualization after injury.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I’ve never been a yes person”: Decision-making participation and self-conceptualization after severe traumatic brain injury

Knox

Douglas

Bigby

2016

Disability and Rehabilitation

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Purpose: Although adults who sustain a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) require support to make decisions in their lives, little is known about their experience of this process. The aim of this study was to explore how participation in decision making contributes to self-conceptualization in adults with severe TBI. Method: We used constructivist grounded theory methods. Data included 20 in-depth interviews with adults with severe TBI. Through a process of constant comparison, analysis involved open and focused coding until clear categories emerged and data saturation was achieved. Results: Self-conceptualization emerged as a complex and multifaceted process, as individuals with TBI aimed to reestablish a sense of autonomy. We describe a recursive relationship in which decision-making participation assists the dynamic construction of self, and self-concept contributes to the experience of making decisions. The role of an individual's social support network in acting as a bridge between participation and self-conceptualization is presented. Conclusions: Findings emphasize that contributing to decisions about one's own goals across a range of life areas can reinforce a positive self-concept. It is vital that supporters understand that participation in decision making provides a pathway to conceptualizing self and aim to maximize the person's participation in the decision-making process. ä IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPrevious research has identified that the experience of sustaining TBI has a significant impact on a person's conceptualization of self. This study identified that decision-making experiences play an important role in the ongoing process of self-conceptualization after injury. Decision-making experiences can reinforce a person's self-concept or lead them to revise (positively or negatively) their sense of self. By maximizing the person's decision-making participation, those around them can support them to develop positive self-attributes and contribute to shaping their future goals. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I’ve never been a yes person”: Decision-making participation and self-conceptualization after severe traumatic brain injury

Knox

Douglas

Bigby

2016

Disability and Rehabilitation

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“…Whilst sense of belonging and social acceptance are integral to obtaining a realistic and positive self-image (Nota et al 2007;Wehman et al 2009), for people with ASD this concept might be determined to a large extent by personal preference for routine or individual challenges posed by sensory and social interaction difficulties. Given that such challenges dictate the rhythm of daily lives of adults with ASD, it would seem that there is a significant discrepancy in constructing the current notion of autonomy, in that it does not allow for free expression of individual perspectives or preferences in one's closest environment despite adults with ASD being expected to do so when making life choices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Autonomy is essential in several important areas of life, including problem solving, decision-making, goal setting, as well as obtaining a realistic and positive self-image (Nota et al 2007). Expressing personal preferences, making autonomous decisions based on those preferences, and assuming personal responsibility for the course of one's choices are expressions of freedoms that are assigned significant value in market-oriented societies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexpected changes of itinerary – adaptive functioning difficulties in daily transitions for adults with autism spectrum disorder

Rydzewska

2016

European Journal of Special Needs Education

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Phone: +44 (0) 141 211 3889Acknowledgments: This research was conducted as part of a PhD project and funded by the School of Education, University of the West of Scotland. 2 AbstractAdaptive functioning skills, also known as adaptive behaviours, refer to a multifaceted concept defined as behaviours necessary for age-appropriate, independent functioning in social, communication, daily living, or motor areas. In light of the growing population of children with ASD who will eventually become adults, increased understanding of adaptive functioning during the transition to adulthood is of importance, but current research in this area lacks first-hand evidence presenting adaptive skills difficulties among older adolescents and adults with ASD. This article focuses on adaptive functioning skills in daily transitions for adults with Asperger's syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA). It draws on evidence from twelve interviews with individuals on the autism spectrum age 16-43, and two focus groups with eight family members of people affected by ASD. Particular emphasis is placed on impact of adaptive functioning difficulties on wellbeing and quality of life for adults with ASD. Grounded theory approach has been used to analyse gathered data. Interviewees reflected on daily challenges associated with unexpected changes in routine, sensory difficulties and social interactions. These in turn had an impact on their adaptive functioning skills by introducing complications in the process of making transitions between different contexts and decreasing interviewees' ability to tackle challenges of daily life. Importance placed on societal expectations towards meeting bespoken standards and conforming to norms ruling the structure and interactions of daily life were also widely discussed. Frequently such expectations did not allow for factoring in the developmental nature of ASD and related difficulties, which as a result triggered additional complexity in managing daily transitions for adults on the spectrum. Further research addressing adaptive functioning skills in daily transitions for adults with ASD is needed.

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“…gender) or experience with selfdetermination and family support for self-determination within or across cultures. Given previous research (Nota et al, 2007;Shogren et al, 2006) that has suggested these variables may influence student self-determination, further research is needed to explore the influence of these characteristics across cultures. Second, our sample was limited to Italian and American adolescents, future research including a more diverse sample of nationalities is needed.…”

Section: Limitations Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shogren (2011) explored the literature on culture and the fSDT, and found theoretical and empirical research examining the expression of self-determined behaviour in Diné cultures (Navajo) (Frankland, Turnbull, Wehmeyer, & Blackmountain, 2004), Korean (Lee & Wehmeyer, 2004), Japanese (Ohtake & Wehmeyer, 2004), Chinese (Zhang, Wehmeyer, & Chen, 2005), as well as diverse cultures within the United States (Trainor, 2005;Valenzuela & Martin, 2005). Researchers in Italy (Nota, Ferrari, Soresi, & Wehmeyer, 2007) and Belgium (Lachapelle et al, 2005) have also explored self-determination and its relationship with other constructs. While this body of research suggests universal aspects of the self-determination construct, it also highlights differences in the specific ways that selfdetermined behaviour may be expressed in different cultures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cross-cultural comparison of the self-determination construct in Italian and American adolescents

Ginevra

Nota

Soresi

et al. 2013

International Journal of Adolescence and Youth

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The functional theory of self-determination ( fSDT) defines and operationalises selfdetermination within a human agentic context. It emerged from research on adolescents with disabilities, however has been increasingly applied to youth without disabilities. While comparability has been evaluated in youth with and without disabilities, it has not been explored across cultures. The purpose of this study was to explore the crosscultural comparability of the fSDT in a sample of Italian and American adolescents. We were specifically interested in examining the universal aspects of the self-determination construct, as well as specific differences in the operationalisation of self-determination across cultures. The findings tentatively suggest that the construct of self-determination is comparable across Italian and American adolescents; however, there are specific differences in the measurement and operationalisation of self-determination across cultures. Directions for future research are discussed.

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Self‐determination, social abilities and the quality of life of people with intellectual disability

Cited by 286 publications

References 23 publications

“I’ve never been a yes person”: Decision-making participation and self-conceptualization after severe traumatic brain injury

“I’ve never been a yes person”: Decision-making participation and self-conceptualization after severe traumatic brain injury

Unexpected changes of itinerary – adaptive functioning difficulties in daily transitions for adults with autism spectrum disorder

A cross-cultural comparison of the self-determination construct in Italian and American adolescents

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