Skip to main content
Log in

The Predictive Role of Self-Determination and Psychological Empowerment on Job Satisfaction in Persons with Intellectual Disability

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed at exploring the predictive role of self-determination and psychological empowerment on job satisfaction in persons with intellectual disability.

Methods

The study involved 80 Italian adult workers with a mild and moderate intellectual disability. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out.

Results

The results of regression analyses carried out, controlling for age, gender, and level of intellectual disability showed a significant and positive direct effect of self-determination and psychological empowerment on job satisfaction (∆R2 = .394, p ˂ .001), and a significant interaction effect of these dimensions on job satisfaction (∆R2 = .043, p = .016).

Conclusions

These results have important implications for practice as they emphasized that specific interventions aimed at promoting self-determination and psychological empowerment throughout the life span of individuals with intellectual disability can be useful to help them achieve positive inclusion outcomes in adult life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Algozzine, B., Browder, D., Karvonen, M., Test, D. W., & Wood, W. M. (2001). Effects of interventions to promote self-determination for individuals with disabilities. Review of Educational Research, 71(2), 219–277. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543071002219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berta, W., Laporte, A., Perreira, T., Ginsburg, L., Dass, A. R., Deber, R., et al. (2018). Relationships between work outcomes, work attitudes and work environments of health support workers in Ontario long-term care and home and community care settings. Human Resources for Health, 16, 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-018-0277-910.1186/s12960-018-0277-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cottini, L. (2016). L’autodeterminazione nelle Persone Con Disabilità: Percorsi Educativi Per Svilupparla [Self-determination in individuals with disabilities: educational paths to develop it]. Roma: Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, J. F., & Richter, A. W. (2006). Probing three-way interactions in moderated multiple regression: development and application of a slope difference test. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(4), 917–926. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.4.917.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The ‘what’ and ‘why’ of goal pursuits: human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Maggio, I., & Shogren, K. (2017). Any given context (school, work, society) will be considered inclusive only if. In L. Nota & S. Soresi (Eds.), For a Manifesto in favor of inclusion. Concerns, ideas, intents and passwords for inclusion (pp. 29–34). Firenze: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberger, R., Stinglhamber, F., Vandenberghe, C., Sucharski, I. L., & Rhoades, L. (2002). Perceived supervisor support: contributions to perceived organizational support and employee retention. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87, 565–573. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.3.565.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ginevra, M. C., Di Maggio, I., Santilli, S., & Nota, L. (2018, June). Positive dimensions and job satisfaction in people with vulnerability. Paper presented at XVI Conference of Italian Association of Vocational Guidance, Milan, Italy.

  • Hartley, S. L., & MacLean, W. E. (2006). A review of the reliability and validity of Likert-type scales for people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 813–827. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00844.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsh, B., Stergiou-Kita, M., Gewurtz, R., Dawson, D., Krupa, T., Lysaght, R., & Shaw, L. (2009). From margins to mainstream: What do we know about work integration for persons with brain injury, mental illness and intellectual disability? Work, 32, 391–405. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2009-0851.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, Y., Wehmeyer, M. L., Haelewyck, M. C., Courbois, Y., Keith, K. D., Schalock, R., et al. (2005). The relationship between quality of life and self-determination: An international study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49, 740–744. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00743.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liden, R. C., Wayne, S. J., & Sparrowe, R. T. (2000). An examination of the mediating role of psychological empowerment on the relations between the job, interpersonal relationships, and work outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 407–416. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.85.3.407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Locke, E. A. (1976). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In M. P. Dunnette (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 1297–1350). Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, H., While, A. E., & Barriball, K. L. (2005). Job satisfaction among nurses: a literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 42, 211–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.09.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niemiec, R. M., Shogren, K. A., & Wehmeyer, M. L. (2017). Character strengths and intellectual and developmental disability: a strengths-based approach from positive psychology. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 52, 13–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nota, L., & Soresi, S. (2014). Psicologia Positiva a Scuola e nei Contesti Formativi [Positive psychology at school and in educational contexts]. Firenze: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nota, L., & Soresi, S. (2017). For a Manifesto in favor of inclusion. Concerns, ideas, intents and passwords for inclusion. Firenze: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nota, L., Ferrari, L., Soresi, S., & Wehmeyer, M. (2007). Self-determination, social abilities and the quality of life of people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 850–865. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00939.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, L. H., O'Connor, E. J., & Wise, S. L. (1984). The specification and testing of useful moderator variable hypotheses. Method and analysis in organizational research, 128–139.

  • Powers, L. E., Turner, A., Ellison, R., & Matuszewski, J. (2001). A multi-component intervention to promote adolescent self-determination. Journal of Rehabilitation, 67, 13–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., Curran, P. J., & Bauer, D. J. (2006). Computational tools for probing interactions in multiple linear regression, multilevel modeling, and latent curve analysis. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 31, 437–448. https://doi.org/10.3102/10769986031004437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rappaport, J. (1987). Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: toward a theory for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 121–148 doi:0091-0562/87/040o-0121505.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shogren, K. A., & Shaw, L. A. (2016). The role of autonomy, self-realization, and psychological empowerment in predicting outcomes for youth with disabilities. Remedial and Special Education, 37, 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932515585003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shogren, K. A., Wehmeyer, M. L., Buchanan, C. L., & Lopez, S. J. (2006). The application of positive psychology and self-determination to research in intellectual disability: a content analysis of 30 years of literature. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 31, 338–345. https://doi.org/10.1177/154079690603100408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shogren, K. A., Wehmeyer, M. L., Palmer, S. B., Forber-Pratt, A., Little, T., & Lopez, S. (2015). Causal agency theory: reconceptualizing a functional model of self-determination. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 50, 251–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soresi, S., & Nota, L. (2007). ASTRID – OR - Portfolio per l’assessment, il trattamento e l’integrazione delle disabilità – orientamento [Portfolio for assessment, treatment and integration of disabilities]. Firenze: Giunti Psychometrics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E. (1985). Measurement of human service staff satisfaction: Development of the Job Satisfaction Survey. American journal of community psychology, 13(6), 693–713. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00929796.

  • Spector, P. E. (1997). Job satisfaction: application, assessment, causes, and consequences. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G. M. (2008). Taking stock: a review of more than twenty years of research on empowerment at work. In J. Barling & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of organizational behavior: Vol. 1: micro approaches (pp. 54–72). Los Angeles: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G. M., Kizilos, M. A., & Nason, S. W. (1997). A dimensional analysis of the relationship between psychological empowerment and effectiveness satisfaction, and strain. Journal of Management, 23, 679–704. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639702300504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone-Romero, E. F., & Anderson, L. E. (1994). Relative power of moderated multiple regression and the comparison of subgroup correlation coefficients for detecting moderating effects. Journal of Applied Psychology, 79, 354–359. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.79.3.354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (1968). United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/. Accessed on December 06, 2018.

  • United Nations. (2016). International convention on the rights of persons with disability. Retrieved from http://nodiscriminazione.regione.puglia.it/download/NormativaInternazionale/Convenzione-ONU-sui-diritti-delle-persone-con-disabilit.pdf. Accessed on December 06, 2018.

  • Van den Broeck, A., Ferris, D. L., Chang, C. H., & Rosen, C. C. (2016). A review of self-determination theory’s basic psychological needs at work. Journal of Management, 42(5), 1195–1229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L. (2003). A functional theory of self-determination: definition and categorization. In M. L. Wehmeyer, B. Abery, D. E. Mithaug, & R. Stancliffe (Eds.), Theory in self-determination: foundations for educational practice (pp. 174–181). Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L. (2006). Self-determination and individuals with severe disabilities: re-examining meanings and misinterpretations. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 30, 113–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L., & Bolding, N. (2001). Enhanced self-determination of adults with intellectual disability as an outcome of moving to community-based work or living environments. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45, 371–383. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2788.2001.00342.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L., & Palmer, S. B. (2003). Adult outcomes for students with cognitive disabilities three-years after high school: the impact of self-determination. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 131–144.

  • Wehmeyer, M., & Schwartz, M. (1997). Self-determination and positive adult outcomes: a follow-up study of youth with mental retardation or learning disabilities. Exceptional Children, 63, 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440299706300207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L., Shogren, K. A., Little, T. D., & Lopez, S. (2017). Handbook of the development of self-determination. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, M. A. (1995). Psychological empowerment: issues and illustrations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23(5), 581–599. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02506983.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

IDM analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. SS and MCG executed the study and collaborated in editing of the final manuscript. LN designed and supervised all the steps of the study and its drafting.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilaria Di Maggio.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics Statement

No IRB format is required from University of Padova.

Informed Consent Statement

Written informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Di Maggio, I., Santilli, S., Nota, L. et al. The Predictive Role of Self-Determination and Psychological Empowerment on Job Satisfaction in Persons with Intellectual Disability. Adv Neurodev Disord 3, 197–203 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-019-00110-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-019-00110-4

Keywords

Navigation