Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Education, Social Sciences and Humanities Department, Lisbon, Portugal
| [b]
Exceptional Education Department, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Lúcia Canha, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Education, Social Sciences and Humanities Department, 1495-688 Lisbon, Portugal. Tel./Fax: +351919987792; E-mail: lucia.canha@apco.pt.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to understand how the characteristics of self-determination (i.e., choice, problem-solving, goal setting) and factors associated with resilience (i.e., support and self-efficacy) relate to each other, including the relationship these variables have on quality-of-life (QoL) for individuals with disabilities. METHODS:Data were collected from 195 youth and young adults with disabilities. RESULTS:Results indicated self-efficacy as a critical skill, showing positive associations with behavior of choice and QoL. In addition, social support emerged as an important factor in the development of self-determination skills. The findings also indicated that an individual’s financial situation assumed a mediator role between self-determination components and QoL. Through structural equations modeling (SEM), a model representing the relationships between these variables was designed.
Keywords: Quality-of-life, transition, self-efficacy, support, self-determination, survey research
