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Abstract
Young adults with an intellectual disability who were resident either in a residential institution or who had moved into independent community accommodation from that institution were interviewed in order to measure how satisfield they were with their lives. All of these people were working at the same large sheltered workshop. Interviews assessed satisfaction with residence, leisure, work, interpersonal relationships, financial position, training and skills. Self esteem and locus of control were also assessed. The only significant differences between the two groups were in their residential satisfaction where those in the institution were more satisfied with their social life while those in the community were more satisfied with their autonomy. There were no significant differences between the two groups in their self esteem or locus of control scores. Those who had moved into the community indicated that they liked living there more than they had in the institution and similarly, those in the institution said that they liked living there more than in their previous accommodation, which in all but one case was with their parents. Social isolation appeared to be an important issue for individuals in both groups and the need for training and assistance in budgeting was seen as important for independent living by some of those in the community.