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ERIC Number: EJ949888
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jan
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0964-2633
EISSN: N/A
Family Quality of Life of Australian Families with a Member with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability
Rillotta, F.; Kirby, N.; Shearer, J.; Nettelbeck, T.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, v56 n1 p71-86 Jan 2012
Background: Family quality of life (FQOL) is a recent concept in intellectual/developmental disability research. Outcomes for the family are important to the provision of services because families, rather than institutions, are increasingly considered the primary support unit. This article presents Australian findings using the international "Family Quality of Life Survey: Main Caregivers of People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities" (FQOLS-2006). Method: Forty-two South Australian main caregivers of people with an intellectual/developmental disability were interviewed using the FQOLS-2006. The FQOL domains assessed were "Health of the Family," "Financial Well-being," "Family Relationships," "Support from Other People," "Support from Disability-Related Services," "Influence of Values, Careers, Leisure and Recreation," and "Community Interaction." Domains were measured in terms of Importance, Opportunities, Attainment, Initiative, Stability and Satisfaction. The FQOLS-2006 asked about the family's practical and emotional "Support from Other People" together, whereas the current study separated the constructs of practical and emotional support. Questions pertaining to FQOL in the past were also added, in order to gain a broader picture of present FQOL. Results: Results indicated that families considered all the FQOL domains to be important. However, "Health," "Family Relationships" and "Financial Well-being" were regarded as slightly more important than "Practical and Emotional Support from Others." The attainment of "Family Relationships," "Health," "Values," and "Leisure and Recreation" were rated as "quite a bit," but "Practical Support from Other People" was only rated as "a little." Families were generally "satisfied" with all FQOL domains, but they were "satisfied" with their "Family Relationships" and they were "neither satisfied or dissatisfied" with their "Financial Well-being." Results also indicated that there was a need to distinguish between the provision of practical and emotional support from others, because the attainment of emotional support was rated at a slightly higher level than practical support. Conclusions: The FQOLS-2006 provided a comprehensive measure of FQOL, which, with some additional modifications, could be used to better inform service provisions and ultimately enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A