Conceptions of Work in Italian Adults With Intellectual Disability

Abstract

People's ideas about work can greatly affect the ways in which they characterize their own work experience and their lives. The first aim of the present study was to analyze the concept of work in individuals with mild or moderate intellectual disability working in competitive or sheltered work settings and, second, to compare the notions of work of individuals with mental retardation with nondisabled adults and young adolescents. The study therefore examined 48 participants with mental retardation, 48 nondisabled adults of the same chronological age, and 48 nondisabled adolescents of the same mental age as the participants with mental retardation. A semistructured interview assessing participants' concepts about work was administered. Qualitative and quantitative analysis results are discussed. No differences emerged for individuals with MR working in competitive or sheltered work contexts, but were conversely observed among participants with mental retardation, same chronological age adults, and same mental age young adolescents.