Abstract
Background: This study examined the degree to which individuals’ sense of self-determination and internal locus of control might be suitable constructs to study in relation to fine arts participation in adults with complex developmental disabilities.
Method: Thirty-four participants in fine arts programs and eight non-participants, all with disabilities involving neuromuscular impairment and varying degrees of cognitive impairment, completed measures of locus of control and of sense of self-determination.
Results: No significant differences on quantitative measures were found among high users, low users or non-users of arts programming. Qualitative results suggest that fine arts participants, relative to non-participants, are more likely to de-emphasize “luck” in favor of effort and ambition in attributions about their circumstances and accomplishments.
Conclusion: While quantitative findings did not suggest a relationship between either self-determination or locus of control and arts participation, the qualitative findings suggest that the constructs might be useful ones to study in relation to arts participation.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Eileen Murray and the staff of the Arts Access Program of the Matheny Medical and Educational Center; the staff of Hattie’s Creative Arts at Hattie Larlham; Jungwon DeVone, Research Assistant; and the study participants for their assistance in this project.