This study aims to examine the effect of improving self-determination of individuals with developmental disabilities(IDDs) on their subjective quality of life and the mediating effect of self-esteem. The research hypothesis was tested through SEM(Stru...
This study aims to examine the effect of improving self-determination of individuals with developmental disabilities(IDDs) on their subjective quality of life and the mediating effect of self-esteem. The research hypothesis was tested through SEM(Structural Equational Modeling) using data from 518 IDDs who participated in the second year(2019) of ‘Life of People with Disabilities Panel Survey(LPDPS).’ Key findings are as follows. First, self-determination variables had a statistically significant effect on subjective quality of life. Second, the capability of judging and determining of IDDs was significantly positively associated with positive self-esteem. On the other hand, whether IDDs acted as decision makers was not significantly associated with either positive or negative self-esteem. Finally, among the pathways examined, only the pathway linking “judgment and decision capacity → positive self-esteem → subjective quality of life” was found to have a statistically significant indirect effect. Based on these results, we identified the mechanisms of the effects of self-determination on subjective quality of life, and discussed practical implications for systems and programs aimed at enhancing self-determination of IDDs.