Predictors of Family Quality of Life Among Parents of Children and Adults with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Understanding and improving quality of life for families with a member with intellectual disability (ID) has been a growing area of research for the past three decades. This study included 529 parents with a son or daughter of any age with ID in two geographically distinct regions of the United States. The purpose was to inquire about family quality of life (FQOL) and the factors that may shape it. Parents reported overall satisfaction with their FQOL with variability across domains. Three nested linear regression models examined: (1) individual and family demographic factors, (2) religious/spiritual factors, and (3) relationship factors. Findings highlighted the importance of both informal (i.e., family, friends) and formal (i.e., professional) social relationships, as well as the sacred dimension of life (i.e., overall religiousness/spirituality) in accounting for this variability among parent ratings. Recommendations are presented for research and practice focused on improving FQOL for parents impacted by ID.