Community residential adjustment: the relationship among environment, performance, and satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Community Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Individuals with intellectual disabilities often face challenges transitioning to community living after institutionalization.
• Understanding factors influencing community residential adjustment is crucial for effective service provision.
• Previous research has focused on institutional outcomes, with less emphasis on post-release community adjustment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess community residential adjustment in individuals released from a state school.
• To examine the relationship between adaptive behavior, environmental factors, and individual characteristics.
• To evaluate residents' satisfaction with different types of community residential programs.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 153 individuals was studied using measures of adaptive behavior and residential satisfaction.
• Five environmental dimensions across six residential program types were analyzed.
• Multiple regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of community adjustment.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in environmental dimensions across the six residential program types.
• Adaptive behavior and environmental characteristics were significant predictors of community residential adjustment.
• Individual characteristics also played a role in explaining variations in adjustment.

Conclusions:

• The type of residential program significantly influences community adjustment outcomes.
• A combination of individual and environmental factors predicts successful community living.
• The study's measurement approach offers valuable insights for future research and service planning for individuals with intellectual disabilities.