The Application of Positive Psychology and Self - Determination to Research in Intellectual Disability : A Content Analysis of 30 Years of Literature

In recent decades, there have been shifts in the conceptualization of intellectual disability and increased attention has been directed toward the importance of identifying and capitalizing on the strengths and capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities as a means to promote meaningful participation, community inclusion, and quality of life outcomes. However, there are little data on the extent to which research in the field of intellectual disability has been influenced by these new conceptualizations. This paper reports the results of a content analysis of 30 years of literature that examines the degree to which research in the field has emphasized the strengths and capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the degree to which this literature base has included constructs associated with positive psychology and self-determination. Our review found that there has been a shift toward research focusing on the capacities of people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, there is a growing body of literature that focuses on constructs within the parameters of positive psychology, including self-determination. However, such research still represents a minority of the scholarship in the field.