Living Independent of Families and Quality of Life of Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20951
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H05758 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: :Education and related fields
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi Gakugei College
• Principal Investigator: Tatsuta Mizuho 山口学芸大学, 教育学部, 講師 (50826154)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Quality of life / 親元からの独立 / 知的障害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Internationally, much attention has been paid to the right to choose where people with intellectual disabilities (ID) live and who they live with. However, there is lack of discussion of living independent of parents for those with ID in Japan. In fact, many people with ID in Japan continue to live with their families even after they become adults. The current study aimed to clarify how living independent of parents influence the quality of life (QOL) of those with ID, comparing Japan, Denmark, and Australia. The data shows that the existence of support system and resources help those with ID to get opportunities of living independent of parents. In addition, support from families and support workers had a great influence on the timing of moving out, choice, and the QOL of those with ID.

Free Research Field

特別支援教育　社会福祉

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、我が国では、知的障害者の親元からの独立は、「親亡き後」の問題として語られる傾向にあり、「自立」のプロセスとして重要な意味を持つことを指摘した研究は少なかった。本研究の学術的意義は、親元からの独立により、意思決定の機会や他者との関係が増え、本人の自立が進んでいく過程を明らかにしたことである。また、海外との比較により、日本の支援環境の問題を指摘したことは本研究の社会的意義といえる。日本の支援者は、幅広い状態像の本人に対し、一人暮らしという形態を本人とともに選択していたが、個人に応じた柔軟な支援体制の確保が必要とされていた。