Dialogue between workers and family members is related to their attitudes towards self-determination of individuals with intellectual disability

ABSTRACT

Background: This study focused on attitudes of workers and family members towards self-determination of individuals with intellectual disability. First, we compare their self-determination attitudes. Second, we test the link from mutual communication (workers and family members perceive that the other party openly dialogues about self-determination) to individual attitudes. Finally, we examine the relationship between mutual communication and affinity in attitudes.

Method: We conducted a survey study with 111 organisations (914 workers and 845 family members).

Results: Workers have more positive attitudes than family members. In addition, high mutual communication was associated with individual positive attitudes towards self-determination and shared attitudes between workers and family members.

Conclusions: When both workers and family members perceive that the other party is accessible and willing to engage in open dialogue about self-determination issues, their attitudes converge.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-determination
• attitudes
• mutual communication
• workers
• family members
• individuals with intellectual disability

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank “PLENA INCLUSIÓN” and associated centres that participated in the studies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Esther Gracia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1354-4061

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support of the Spanish Agency of Economy and Competitiveness [grant number PSI2013-48509-P], Spanish Research Agency (AEI) [grant number PSI2016-78158-R], and FEDER.