An integrative model of the subjective well-being of staff working in intellectual disability services

Abstract Background The detrimental effects of caregiving have been well documented. In order to compensate for the disadvantages of caring, research has also tried to identify factors associated to caregivers’ subjective well-being (SWB). Aims We aim at presenting an integrative model of SWB. Methods and procedures Sample consisted of 228 staff working with people with intellectual disabilities. Measures employed included three different components of self-care (social, internal and physical), mental and physical health, conscientiousness, hope, and life satisfaction. The model aimed to explain SWB, measured by life satisfaction, by several variables (self-care, mental and physical health, and conscientiousness), while checking for the role of hope as a partial mediator of these relationships. Outcomes and results Results show an overall good fit of the model: χ 2 (6) = 12.274, p  =  .056; CFI = .953; RMSEA = .077 [.000, .139], hence establishing the first model of prediction of SWB of staff in services for people with intellectual disabilities. Conclusions and implications Social self-care, mental health and conscientiousness were capable of explaining life satisfaction but only through hope, that is, these factors did not have significant direct effects. The presence of hope may be then necessary for these factors to benefit staff. Strengths and limitations are discussed.