QOL of the mentally disabled and support for community living

2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 15330127
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Social welfare and social work studies
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: OKADA Mari Ritsumeikan University, College of Social Science, Professor, 産業社会学部, 助教授 (40309076)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAKAE Setsuko Momoyamagakuin University, Faculty of Sociology, Assistant Professor, 社会学部, 講師 (40319596) ; MAEDA Nobuhiko Ritsumeikan University, College of Social Science, Professor, 産業社会学部, 教授 (20222284) ; MISHINA Keiko Hanazono University, Faculty of Social Welfare, Associate Professor, 社会学部, 助教授 (50340469) ; OKADA Shinichi Osaka City University, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Associate Professor, 大学院・生活科学研究科, 助教授 (20291601)
• Project Period (FY): 2003 – 2005
• Keywords: the mentally disabled / QOL / live in community / living support

Research Abstract

In 2006, we reanalyzed the quantitative data collected in 2005 to grasp the QOL of the mentally disabled through comparison with the university student and to clarify factors to have influences on it. This is because data of the 27 subjects who were behind with the collection of the questionnaire were not included in analysis of 2005, and this time, we added these data and analyzed the data of 298 subjects again. As same as before, it became clear that the QOL and life satisfaction of the mentally disabled were lower than those of the university students, and that life satisfaction, self-determination, and hope were significantly related to QOL.
In addition, we reviewed again the qualitative data on opportunities and process of the QOL improvement that were collected in 2005 through interview with the mentally disabled, their family members, and the professions who served the mentally disabled. This time, we included the information that had been provided by the domestic and foreign professions in hearing, inspection, and a workshop. The data from more than 50 people showed that it was possible for even the severely mentally disabled to live in community if there was appropriate support, and there was hope of recovery. The important supports for them included housing services, financial support, working support, daily living support, family support, support to get the understanding of the people of the neighborhood and maintain good relations with them, peer support, support for new experience and activity and will / hope / confidence for being promising.
From these results, we concluded that it was necessary to improve the QOL of the mentally disabled and as for that a wide range of programs and interventions including both an individual support and an arrangement of the environment should be prepared. At last, we suggested the proposal about services.