Project team members:

• Assoc. Prof. Sanja Šimleša, PhD
• Prof. Ana Wagner Jakab, PhD
• Prof. Daniela Bratković, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Natalija Lisak, PhD
• Matea Begić Alić, assistant
• Alisa Vivoda, assistant

The quality of life is shaped by numerous factors in constant mutual interaction. The quality of life of people with autism and people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is neglected field of research, especially from the perspective of the individuals themselves. In addition, contemporary approaches observe quality of life through the family context as well. The aims of this project are: to analyse the quality of life of people with autism and co-occurring ID and people with ID from the perspective of the individuals themselves and of the people in their immediate environment. Additional aims are to determine differences in the perception of quality of life between the individuals themselves and people from their immediate environment, to compare the quality of life of people with autism and people with ID, to determine the strength of predictors of formal and informal support on the quality of life of people with autism and people with ID, and to examine the moderating effect of formal and informal support on the relationship between quality of life and personal characteristics of people with autism and people with ID. Furthermore, the aim is to analyze family quality of life from the perspective of family members of people with autism and people with ID, and to jointly create (co-design) guidelines for improving quality of life and support systems, as well as guidelines for future research with this population. In the quantitative part of the research, which will include measurement instruments for assessing quality of life, quality of support, and personal factors, participants will include people with autism (N = 50), people with ID (N = 50), and individuals from their immediate environment (N = 100). In the qualitative part, four focus groups will be conducted with family members of these individuals (N = 32). Based on the research findings, co-design activities will be carried out with stakeholders to create guidelines for improving the quality of life and support systems, as well as guidelines for further research.

The project includes the first comprehensive study on the quality of life of adults with autism and adults with intellectual disabilities in Croatia, incorporating the perspectives of the individuals themselves, their families, and support providers. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods and applying a participatory and co-design approach, the project will deepen the understanding of the impact of personal factors as well as formal and informal forms of support on quality of life. It will also advance existing theoretical models and result in the development of guidelines for improving the support system.