Quality of Life of the Mentally Disabled 1991: Mildly Disabled

The project on the quality of life of the mentally disabled was set in motion by the research unit of the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in 1989. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews. The quality of life of the mildly disabled was studied from several viewpoints. The mildly disabled responded to survey questions themselves, but background information was collected before the interviews. Interviewers assessed the interview situations and the reliability of the responses afterwards. The respondents gave their opinions on housing, working life, and their financial circumstances. Their educational background was charted, as well as whether they needed help with housework. Several questions focused on leisure, social relationships, and individual psychological factors. Views on hobbies, friendships, relationships, and autonomy were explored. Finally, the respondents were asked how conscious they were of their disabilities, and how those disabilities affected their lives. Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, mother tongue, Special Services District, parents' education and occupation, and the number of siblings. Relating to R's disability, questions about mobility, oral expression, and living in institutions were asked.