Title: Building the future: a structural equation modeling approach of relationships among self-determination, self-concept, student transition planning, and life skills

Authors: Mihaela Cristea

Addresses: Doctoral School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania

Abstract: The relationship between self-determination and life skills development in students with disabilities has been explored in limited research. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the pattern of the relationships through the lens of direct, mediation, and moderation effects among self-determination components, self-concept, student transition planning, and life skills development in students with disabilities. The data were collected using standardised instruments from 304 adolescents with learning disabilities and intellectual disability (M = 14.93; SD = 1.42). A structural equation modelling approach was performed to estimate two models: a latent causal model for the direct and mediation effects, and a causal path model for the moderation effects. The findings indicated that self-determination and self-concept directly affected life skills development. Self-concept had a moderator role in the relationship between the four self-determination components and life skills development. Implications for future research and educational practice are discussed.

Keywords: self-determination; self-concept; transition; life skills; intellectual disability; structural equation modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQRE.2025.145752

International Journal of Quantitative Research in Education, 2025 Vol.6 No.1, pp.36 - 56

Received: 16 May 2022
Accepted: 12 Apr 2023
Published online: 23 Apr 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article