Zwischen Selbst- und Fremdbestimmung : eine qualitative Studie zur Selbstbestimmung aus Perspektive der Fachpersonen in besonderen Wohnformen

How self-determined are people in specialized forms of housing? The aim of this dissertation is to answer which aspects promote and restrict the self-determination of residents in residential care. What do staff members understand by self-determination? Are there differences between observation and their self-disclosure? To answer these questions, a qualitative approach of participant observation and guided interviews was chosen. For this purpose, a group home in the Federal Republic of Germany was selected. About 30 people with psychiatric diagnoses live in this facility. The staff in residential care have their own, short definition of self-determination and attach great importance to it. They point out limits and have an awareness of the challenges of living in an institution. Staff members associate self-determination with independence and conclude that self-determination is only possible for independent people. They propagate restraint and see self-determination as their work assignment. Vocational training has an influence on the understanding of self-determination. Aspects that positively effect self-determination are various freedoms, relationships, the residents' competences and belonging to a group. The aspects negatively affect on self-determination are staff paternalism, leading and controlling residents, external determination, and lack of external support. In addition, institutional framework conditions and the professional team play a role. The residents' financial situation also has an influence on their self-determination. This shows that self-determination is very important to staff in residential care, but that their actions also restrict or even make it impossible. Based on this dissertation, the recommendation can be derived that the self-determination of the residents of inpatient residential facilities should be placed more strongly at the center of daily work to enable them to lead a self-determined life.