A motivational approach to quality of life: Theoretical and professional implications for the rehabilitation of persons with mental retardation

Quality of life measures have become a popular academic and professional response to the demand for accountability from professionals and institutions engaged in the rehabilitation of persons with mental retardation. However, a number of serious related questions weaken the persuasiveness of this proposal. These questions relate to the definition of quality of life, the rationale for the claim that quality of life is the goal of rehabilitation, the processes, services and resources that contribute to quality of life and the measurement of quality of life. This paper argues that theoretical constructs from the area of human motivation can help resolve some of the issues that arise when quality of life is considered a criterion of persons with mental retardation.