-Content Expert Stewart Shear
Positive behavior support is focused on improving quality of life. Core elements of quality of life include:
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- Health and safety
- Social interaction and relationships
- Productive activity
- Self-advocacy and choice
- Community participation
This Quality of Life section includes literature relevant to person-centered planning and lifestyle enhancement. It includes individual studies and syntheses of the literature. Click on the citations below to be redirected to either the publication itself (if available) or the publisher's website where the item can be purchased.
Health and Lifestyle
- Healthy behaviors and lifestyles in young adults with a history of developmental disabilities - Rurangirwa, J., Van Naarden Braun, K., Schendel, D., & Yeargin-Allsopp, M. (2006). Research paper that presents the results of a health survey that reveals that young adults with developmental disabilities are at a higher risk for poor health and lower quality of life (free).
- Into the Unknown: Aging with Autism Spectrum Disorders - Perkins, E. A. and Berkman, K. A. (2012). This paper summarizes current research on quality of life indicators for aging adults diagnosed with Autism. The paper concludes with recommendations for future work.
- Mindful caregiving increases happiness among individuals with profound multiple disabilities - Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A., Wahler, R. G., Singh, J., & Sage, M. (2004). Evidence that teaching caregivers mindful interactions increases happiness of those being supported (free).
- Person-centered active support - increasing choice, promoting independence, and reducing challenging behavior - Beadle-Brown, J., Hutchinson, A. & Whelton (2012). An examination of the effects of person centered practices on engagement, participation, choice-making opportunities and the reduction of self-stimulatory behavior for 30 people residing in community based homes.
Other Research on Quality of Life and Positive Supports
- Person-centered planning: Analysis of research and effectiveness. - Claes, C., VanHove, G., Vandevelde, S., VanLoon, J., & Schalock, R.L. (2010). A paper that examines what research has been done in the area of person centered practices and what evidence exists for the effectiveness (available for purchase).
- Positive Behavioral Support of Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Assessment of Long-term Adjustment and Habilitation Following Restrictive Treatment Histories. - Bird, F. and Luiselli, J. (2000). Evidence is presented on the lasting effects of using positive behavior support in place of restrictive procedures and the impact to quality of life (available for purchase).
Research on Supporting People to Have Meaningful Days
- Evaluating and increasing in-home leisure activity among adults with sever disabilities in supported independent living - Wilson, P. G., Reid, D. H., & Green, C. W. (2006). When supported with making choices around leisure time people increased leisure activity engagement. This study summarizes the methods and results of the staff training and pair choice design (free).
- In Search of Meaningful Daytimes: Case Studies of Community-Based Nonwork Supports - Jennifer Sulewski (2010). A paper that summarizes case studies from two states in implementing community networking and the impact on quality of life (free).
- Positive behavior support and supported employment for adults with severe disability - West, E. A. and Patton, H. A. (2010). Evidence that people who are giving the opportunity to work in a community based setting, rather than a segregated setting due to problem behavior, generally produces better behavioral outcomes and improves quality of life (free).
Self-determination impact on Quality of Life
- Enhanced self-determination of adults with intellectual disability as an outcome of moving to community-based work or living environments - Wehmeyer, M. L. and Bolding, N. (2001). This paper presents evidenced that congregate and group work and living settings limit the choice and decision making for those receiving services (free).
- Self-determination, social abilities and the quality of life of people with intellectual disability - Nota, L., Ferrrari, L., Soresi, S., & Wehmeyer, M. L. (2007). This study analyzed self-determination and it's link to quality of life (free).
- The relationship between quality of life and self-determination: an international study - Lachapelle, Y., Wehmeyer, M.L., Haelewyck, M. C., Courbois, Y., Keith, K. D., Schalock, R., Verdugo, M. A. & Walsh, P. N. (2005). An international study with results that showed a strong correlation with high quality of life and strong self-determination (free).
Strategies to Improve Quality of Life
- Integrating best practice in person-centered planning, wraparound, and positive behavior support to enhance quality of life. - Freeman, R., Enyart, M., Schmitz, K., Kimbrough, P., Matthews, P., & Newcomer, L. (2014). In F. Brown, J. Anderson, & R. De Pry (Eds), Individual Positive Behavior Supports: A Standards-Based Guide to Practices in School and Community-Based Settings (pp 241-257). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes (for purchase).
- Quality of Life: Its Definition and Measurement - Felce, D., and Perry, J. (1995). An article that outlines the complexity in measuring quality of life domains and methods to address measuring quality of life (free).
- The Expanding Vision of Positive Behavior Support: Research Perspectives on Happiness, Helpfulness, Hopefulness - Carr, E.G. (2007). Discusses the implications for linking positive behavior support to quality of life indicators (free).
- Variables within a Household that Influence Quality-of-Life Outcomes for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Living in the Community: Discovering the Gaps - Francis, G. L., Blue-Banning, M., & Turnbull, R. (2014). A deeper dive into what makes a good match when finding community based house for people that contribute to a high quality of life for the person (free).
Supporting People with Relationships
- Direct Support Professionals and Quality of Life of People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities -
Carli Friedman (2018). Research on how staff turnover and quality of life impacts the quality of life for those being supported (free). - Linking Positive Behavior Support to Family Quality-of-Life Outcomes - Smith-Bird, E. & Turnbull, A.P.(2005). his article provides a brief overview of family quality of life, citing specific information from the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (for purchase).
- Quality of Rapport as a Setting Event for Problem Behavior: Assessment and Intervention - Darlene Magito McLaughlin and Edward G. Carr (2005). This paper provides a method to assess the quality of rapport established by caregivers with the people they support and presents a training package to improve quality of rapport. Implications for the quality of life for those being supported is discussed (free).
- The application of positive behaviour support using inter-disciplinary systemic and family-centered intervention. – McIver & McVilly (2012). Available for purchase.
The Role of Culture on Quality of Life
- Cross-cultural study of core quality of life indicators - Schalock, R. L., Verdugo, M., Jenaro, C., Wang, M., Wehmeyer, M., Xu, J., & Lachapelle, Y. (2005). A study that expands on previous research into cultural backgrounds impact on quality of life assessment (free).
