Researchers in the medical and social sciences have shown a rapidly growing interest in the concept of Quality of Life (QoL) in the past few decades. Reasons include its potential as an outcome measure of service delivery, and the opportunity of using a shared language both within and between different disciplines. Despite the widespread use of QoL in research, practice and policy development, there is little agreement on the defining aspects, as well as on the operationalization of the concept. In an attempt to broaden the knowledge on QoL and to give an overview of interdisciplinary consensus-and discussion aspects, a review of peer-reviewed QoLreviews, indexed in Web of Science, and published from 2000-2013 (n=75) was carried out. Theoretical and measurement principles, derived from the QoL-framework of Schalock & Verdugo (2002) were systematically explored. Results indicate a growing interdisciplinary consensus on QoL as (1) a multidimensional construct, (2) composed of both objective and subjective dimensions, (3) with an emphasis on the subjective evaluation of one's life circumstances, (4) which is dynamic in nature and (5) which can be influenced and enhanced by a variety of factors, implying a positive view on social services. Contrary, debate is still going on (1) the ideal method to assess QoL, (2) the use of proxies in QoL-measurement and (3) the preference for a general or on the contrary disease-or target group specific QoL-instrument. (6) when operationalized by means of the question "How satisfied are you with your life as a whole", its composition dominantly reflects a stable and positive mood state, also referred to as 'Homeostatically Protected Mood', rather than a cognitive evaluation of people's lives. The homeostatic system seeks to defend this state of SWB (Cummins 2009; Davern et al. 2007). Felce and Perry's QoL model (1995; 1997) has been used with persons with intellectual and multiple significant disabilities (Petry et al. 2005; 2007). Felce and Perry define and conceptualize QoL as "an overall general wellbeing that comprises objective descriptors and subjective evaluations of physical, material, social, and emotional wellbeing, together with the extent of personal development and purposeful activity, all weighted by a personal set of values" (Felce & Perry 1995, p. 62). Three essential components can be discerned: objective life conditions on different life domains, subjective feelings of wellbeing on these domains, and personal values and aspirations regarding these domains. These components are in a constant dynamic interaction with each other, as changes in one of the components may induce changes in the other components. At the same time these three elements are able of evolving independently as a result of external influences, such as age and maturation, or social, economic and political variables (Felce & Perry 1995). As the components can be influenced by external factors, any measurement of QoL should include the assessment of all three aspects (Felce & Perry 1995). The World ...

The life of older mentally ill offenders (OMIOs) is often characterized by successive periods of detention in correctional facilities, admissions to psychiatric services, and unsuccessful attempts to live independently. Through in-depth interviews, eight personal stories from OMIOs under supervision of the commission of social defence in Ghent (Belgium) were analyzed in the phenomenological research tradition. The results of the study reveal that OMIOs had more positive and less negative experiences in prison settings when compared with other institutional care settings. Independent living, unsurprisingly, is favored the most. This may be due to the fact that the latter option fosters personal competence, feelings of being useful, personal choices, and contact with the “outside” world. Even in later lifetime, a combined approach of risk assessment with improvement of well-being remains valuable to stimulate offender rehabilitation. Therefore, more research into concepts that could be used to support OMIOs needs further consideration.

Background Currently, the risk-oriented focus in forensic youth care is increasingly complemented by a growing interest in strengths-based approaches. Knowledge on how detention and the subsequent period in the community is experienced by adolescents, and which elements are helpful in achieving better lives can contribute to this emerging field. The current study aimed to retrospectively explore adolescents’ experiences from the moment they were detained until 6 to 12 months after they left the institution, identifying positive aspects and strengths. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 adolescents (both boys and girls, 15–18 years old) on average 8 months after discharge from a closed institution in Belgium. A thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 11. Results Five themes and corresponding subthemes were identified: (1) adolescents’ own strengths and resilience, (2) re-building personally valued lives, (3) making sense of past experiences, (4) moving away from a harmful lifestyle, and (5) (in-)formal supports. Most adolescents are on their way to finding a new balance in life, however, for a subgroup of them, this is still fragile. Adolescents highly emphasize the importance of feeling closely connected to at least one person; to receive practical help with regard to finances, work and housing; and to be able to experience pleasure and joy in their lives. Conclusions Adolescents’ narratives suggest that starting a journey towards a normative good life often goes along with an initial difficult period because of a sense of loss with regard to their former life. This stresses the importance of targeting rehabilitation towards prosocial goals and enhancing adolescents’ quality of life on those life domains that matter most for them. Furthermore, we stress the importance of helping adolescents in overcoming structural barriers as a first step in supporting them in their trajectories towards better lives.

This study investigated adolescents' Quality of Life and mental health needs during the first weeks in a closed institution for mandatory care and treatment to inform (gender-specific) rehabilitation. Questionnaires concerning socio-demographic variables, Quality of Life and mental health needs were administered (n ¼ 182; 90 boys and 92 girls; mean age ¼ 16.2). Given the high prevalence of mental health needs in this study population and their significant negative correlation with QoL, we argue for a holistic view on rehabilitation and to broaden treatment aims in youth forensic care by including not only determinants of recidivism but also determinants of QoL.

In recent years, a growing trend to consider strengths and protective factors in studies on desistance from crime has emerged. The present study explores three formerly detained adolescents’ narratives, aiming to tease out how Quality of Life (QoL) and desistance interact in pathways towards a “better life.” The narratives suggest that the journey towards a better life is highly individual, and may unfold via multiple pathways characterized by an ambivalent relationship between QoL and desistance. Alongside the importance of individual aspects and social support, societal barriers and opportunities play a significant role in creating new chances to re-build a life and prosocial identities. This reflects earlier findings that desistance is not an individual responsibility. It is essential to support young people to overcome societal barriers that impede participation in society and living a good life. This research adds to growing evidence of strengths-based approaches to rehabilitation, such as the Good Lives Model (GLM).