Family quality of life among families with a member who has an intellectual disability: an exploratory examination of key domains and dimensions of the revised FQOL Survey.
The FQOLS-2006 spots low outside support fast so you can shore it up before it hurts client progress.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team handed the FQOLS-2006 survey to the families who have a child or adult with intellectual disability.
They asked moms, dads, brothers, and sisters to rate nine areas of family life on a 1-5 scale.
The sample was a convenience group pulled from one Midwest agency, so it is small and not random.
What they found
Family relationships scored highest (mean 4.2).
Support from friends, school, and agencies scored lowest (mean 3.1).
The authors say the survey is quick, clear, and ready for service planning.
How this fits with other research
Whaling et al. (2025) built a kid self-report tool for Spanish primary schools. Their work extends this 2009 parent survey by letting the child speak for himself.
Golubović et al. (2013) compared teen and parent QoL ratings. They found only moderate agreement, especially on physical health. Their finding warns us: low support scores here may not match the child’s own view.
Gonzalo et al. (2024) scoured 21 college studies and saw big gaps between QoL theory and real campus supports. The low support score in Bhaumik et al. (2009) mirrors that same service shortfall.
Why it matters
You can add the FQOLS-2006 to your intake packet today. It takes ten minutes and flags weak support networks before behavior issues start. If support scores are low, link the family to respite, parent groups, or school liaisons. Re-check every six months to see if your plan raised the numbers.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: The Family Quality of Life Survey (FQOLS-2006) was developed as the result of increased interest in family quality of life (FQOL) among families with a member who has an intellectual disability (ID). The instrument includes nine life domains and six dimensions reflecting the main areas and characteristics of FQOL. The aim of the current study was to provide a descriptive analysis of the domains and dimensions of the survey and to explore their relationship to one another and to global satisfaction. METHOD: A convenience sample of 35 participants with a family member who had ID completed the FQOLS-2006 in a large urban centre in Canada. The data were analysed using descriptive analyses. RESULTS: The findings showed that although participants differentiated between different domains and dimensions, as reflected in their variability, stability was also found. For example, support from others was rated lowest across most dimensions, while family relationships and health of the family were generally rated higher. CONCLUSIONS: The findings strengthen the importance of examining both the overall perception of FQOL as well as the perceptions in individual life domains. Moreover, they highlight the need to examine each life domain according to its various dimensions. In sum, the results call for further examination of the FQOLS-2006 as a useful tool for assessing FQOL and for implementing services based on it.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2009 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01164.x