Examining the Link Between Supports and Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Self-Determination for Adults Receiving Long Term Services and Supports

Abstract

The current study used a Causal Agency (Shogren et al., 2015; Shogren, 2016) lens to examine the relations between the caregiver relationship type, self-determination, and social determination of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in order to gain a better understanding of the predictive relation of caregiver relationship on social determination and the mediating effect of self-determination. Using a sample of 193 caregivers and 193 individuals with IDD, three research questions were examined: How are self-determination and social determination related? How does the caregiver relationship predict social-determination? Does self-determination mediate the relationship between caregiver relationship and social determination? Findings show that self-determination and social determination are not significantly related. These results do not corroborate with previous research and suggest a need for an examination of the social determination construct. Additional findings suggest that caregiver relationship and self-determination are significant predictive factors regarding an individual’s dating choices. Further findings show that self-determination does not mediate the relationship between caregiver relationship and social-determination. These results indicate that self-determination does not explain the link between caregiver relationship and social-determination. Implications of this study are important for policy-makers, practitioners, and caregivers who can help foster self-determination in order to help individuals achieve a higher quality of life.