Factors associated with expressed satisfaction among people with intellectual disability receiving residential supports

The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with variat ions in the levels of expressed satisfaction among adults with intellectual disability (ID) receiving residential supports. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 96 people with ID. Forty-five subjects lived in villag e communities and 51 received community-based residential supports. Ratings were made of the participants' expressed levels of satisfaction in seven d omains: (1) their home; (2) daytime activities; (3) social and recreational activities; (4) support from services; (5) friendships and relationships; (6) choices available to them; and (7) risks. The data indicated that: (1) interviewees living in village communities expressed greater satisfaction w ith friendships and relationships than interviewees living in community-bas ed residential supports; (2) in the other six domains of life satisfaction which were investigated, there were no statistically significant difference s between groups; (3) interviewees expressed greater satisfaction with thei r accommodation and day activities than with friendships, risks and support received; and (4) a wide range of variables relating to the personal chara cteristics of the interviewees and support received were associated with va riations in levels of expressed satisfaction. Variation in the levels of ex pressed satisfaction was reliably associated with variables relating to the personal characteristics of the interviewees and the nature of the support received.