Soutenir l'autodétermination des personnes présentant une déficience intellectuelle : contribution de la théorie de l'autodétermination
Since the 1980s, the development of self-determination has become a priority in the intellectual disability (ID) intervention domain. Socialization agents (e.g., educators, social workers, teachers, parents) have a crucial role in its promotion through the support they offer and the learning they promote. The way they communicate and the type of relationship they establish with the person with an ID influence its development. Yet, few studies have evaluated what are the best ways to communicate and interact in order to promote self-determination in people with an ID. Anchored in self-determination theory (SDT), the present thesis focuses on evaluating the effects of a specific type of support, autonomy support (AS, or self-determination support; a way to communicate and interact that supports the need for self-determination), on the self-determination and on the behavioral, motivational and emotional benefits of people with a mild intellectual disabilities (MID), in a learning context.  Two papers will be presented in this thesis.  The first study, theoretical in nature, aims at better understanding and clarifying this concept in the light of functional self-determination theory (fSDT) and self-determination theory (SDT). Interventions studies to promote self-determination in SDT and fSDT will also be presented. Secondly, SDT and fSDT will be compared and contrasted with one another in order to elucidate their differences, similarities and complementarities, both in theory and practice. Finally, AS studied within SDT, is proposed as a promising intervention, in addition to fSDTs’ interventions, to foster self-determination as well as behavioral, motivational and emotional benefits in this population.  The second study aims at evaluating this specific proposal. Through an experimental study, we assessed whether AS can help satisfy the need for autonomy/self-determination in people with  mild intellectual disabilities (MID) and facilitate the internalization of the task value, engagement in the task as well as decrease the degree of anxiety when participants are asked to learn a new problem-solving task, an important yet tedious activity. This study compared the effects of a task carried out with or without autonomy support (experimental and control condition, respectively). Participants (N = 51) of the study all had a MID and were recruited in a “Centre de réadaptation en déficience intellectuelle et troubles envahissants du développement” in the Montreal area, in Quebec (Canada). Results showed that compared to the control condition, autonomy support increased participants’ self-determination, internalization of the task value and engagement while it decreased their anxiety level.  The meaning of these results as well as their potential implications for research and interventions are discussed.
Déficience intellectuelle Self-determination Intellectual disability Type of support Autonomy support Internalization Socialization Learning