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Correlation between subjective and objective measures of outcome in staffed community housing
Author(s) -
Perry J.,
Felce D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00652.x
Subject(s) - quality of life (healthcare) , psychology , correlation , life satisfaction , adaptive functioning , adaptive behavior , sample (material) , subjective well being , association (psychology) , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , mathematics , chemistry , geometry , chromatography , psychotherapist , happiness
Background A distinction is made between objective and subjective assessment when quality of life evaluation is considered. The aim was to explore the association between objective and subjective appraisals within similar quality of life domains. Methods Correlations between scores on objective and subjective quality of life measures concerning choice, activity and integration were investigated by administering measures to the residents of a random sample of 47 small community housing services. Correlations between the measures and resident adaptive behaviour were also investigated. Results All objective measures were significantly correlated with adaptive behaviour but only one subjective measure was. With level of adaptive behaviour controlled, 6/7 correlations between pairs of objective measures were significant. Fifteen of the 16 correlations between objective and subjective measures were insignificant. Conclusions Assessments of objective life conditions and personal satisfaction appear to be distinct. Their suitability for different purposes and the notion that subjective appraisal of life may be under homeostatic regulation are discussed.