The Relationship of Perceptions of Service and Support Adequacy to Family Quality of Life for Families of Children with Deafblindness

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between families' perceptions of supports and services and family quality of life (FQOL) for families of children with deafblindness, and the potential of satisfaction with family-professional partnerships and child age as moderators of this relationship. The study was guided by the Unified Theory of Family Quality of Life. Two-hundred and twenty-seven families of children with deafblindness between the ages of birth and 22 completed the Service Adequacy and Family Quality of Life for Families of Children who are Deafblind Survey. Results indicated that families' perceptions of supports and services were significantly related to FQOL and that this relationship was dependent on the level of satisfaction families had with family-professional partnerships and the age of the person with deafblindness in the family. Important predictors included friend and family support, related services, and information services. In addition, four interaction effects significantly predicted FQOL: (a) education services adequacy x family-professional partnerships, (b) related services adequacy x family-professional partnerships, (c) friend and family support adequacy x age, and (d) child care adequacy x age. A discussion of the findings is provided and implications for practice, policy, and future research are discussed.