Choice making, competence and well being of persons with mild mental retardation or borderline intelligence.

The present study addresses the question whether the well being of persons with mild mental retardation or borderline intelligence depends upon their ability to make their own choice. It is hypothesized that creating opportunities for choice making does not directly increase these persons' feelings of well being, but that this causal connection is mediated by feelings of competence to make choices. This issue was studied in a sample of 69 18-39 yr old Dutch men and women (38 with mild mental retardation and 31 with borderline functioning). The participants varied in level of the dependency of their living arrangements. All participants were orally administered surveys concerning the opportunities that they enjoyed to make their own choices, concerning their feelings of competence to make these choices, and their well being. Survey questions referred to mundane issues as well as major life choices. Results of a covariance structure analysis provided support for the hypothesis. Results are discussed in terms of reasons for granting opportunities for choice making and raising the well being of persons with mild mental retardation or borderline intelligence by coaching them to choose competently.