Research Institute for Developmental Medicine, Johannes Kepler University, 4020, Linz, Austria.
Institute of Neurology of Senses and Language, Hospital of St. John of God, 4020, Linz, Austria.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023 Nov;58(11):1709-1718. doi: 10.1007/s00127-023-02451-x. Epub 2023 Mar 9.
While positive contributions of religion and spirituality (R/S) to quality of life (QOL) are confirmed by a growing body of evidence, only limited research has involved people with intellectual disabilities and so far, no studies included prelingually deaf individuals with intellectual disabilities. This study explores the role of R/S in people with intellectual disabilities and deafness living in three therapeutic living communities specifically adapted to their needs.
Forty-one individuals (mean age: 46.93 years, 43.9% female) with prelingual deafness and mild to moderate intellectual disability participated in structured sign language interviews adapted to their cognitive-developmental level, regarding their QOL, individual spirituality and participation in spiritual practices in the community. Participants' QOL was assessed with an established short measure for QOL (EUROHIS-QOL) adapted to easy-to-understand sign language. With 21 participants, qualitative interviews were conducted. In addition, proxy ratings from caregivers were obtained.
The participants' ratings of their individual spirituality (r = 0.334; p = 0.03) and spiritual practices-in-community (r = 0.514; p = 0.00) correlated positively with their self-reported QOL. Qualitative findings illustrate the importance of R/S and give insights into R/S concepts and practices.
Personal spirituality and participating in spiritual practices are positively related to self-reported quality of life in deaf individuals with intellectual disability (ID). As a consequence, access to spiritual and religious services should be included in comprehensive programs and society at large.
越来越多的证据证实了宗教和精神信仰（R/S）对生活质量（QOL）的积极贡献，但只有有限的研究涉及智力障碍者，迄今为止，尚无研究包括有智力障碍的失聪人士。本研究探讨了生活在三个专门为满足其需求而设计的治疗性生活社区中的有智力障碍和失聪人士的 R/S 作用。
41 名有先天性失聪和轻度至中度智力障碍的个体（平均年龄：46.93 岁，43.9%为女性）参与了适应其认知发展水平的结构化手语访谈，内容涉及他们的生活质量、个人精神信仰以及在社区中参与精神实践的情况。参与者的生活质量使用经过验证的、针对生活质量的简短测量工具（EUROHIS-QOL）进行评估，该工具已适应易于理解的手语。对 21 名参与者进行了定性访谈。此外，还从护理人员处获得了代理评分。
参与者对个人精神信仰（r=0.334；p=0.03）和社区中精神实践（r=0.514；p=0.00）的评分与他们自我报告的生活质量呈正相关。定性研究结果说明了 R/S 的重要性，并深入了解了 R/S 的概念和实践。
个人精神信仰和参与精神实践与失聪智力障碍个体（ID）的自我报告生活质量呈正相关。因此，应将获得精神和宗教服务纳入综合计划和整个社会。
