Understanding Quality of Working Life of Workers with Intellectual Disabilities.

Background  This paper examines the perceived quality of working life of workers with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, this paper looks at participants’ perceptions in relation to perceived job demands and resources and their impact on experienced job satisfaction. Methods  In this cross-sectional survey, 507 workers with intellectual disabilities, employed in either sheltered workshops or supported employment, completed questionnaires on the quality of working life through semi-structured interviews. Results  Regression analyses showed that perceived low job demands and elevated social support from coworkers and supervisors predicted higher quality of working life. Conclusions  Common organizational psychology measures can be successfully used with this population to assess quality of working life. This study confirms the multidimensional nature of quality of working life, and the impact of job demands and available resources on perceived satisfaction with job for workers with intellectual disabilities.