The Dynamics of Personal Agency among Participants in Social-psychological Training for Restoring Legal Capacity: Analysis of Interviews

Abstract

Protecting the rights and interests of individuals with mental disorders is crucial to their well-being and quality of life. However, their personal agency and self-determination remain under-researched. Exploring the phenomenon of «agency development» within the context of legal capacity restoration can significantly contribute to the existing body of knowledge. To this end, we conducted research analyzing interviews with individuals with mental disabilities who had participated in social-psychological training to prepare for legal capacity restoration and subsequently underwent court proceedings. This study included 15 participants, aged 24 to 69, diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. These individuals resided in various settings, including psychoneurological residential facilities, assisted living programs, and homes with relatives. All participants completed a social-psychological training program in 2023, and their subsequent legal proceedings have concluded. In-depth interviews were conducted to qualitatively assess the training’s effectiveness. The resulting data enabled us to identify and describe the dynamics of the participants’ personal agency development. Prior to the training and legal proceedings, participants exhibited a spectrum of personal agency, ranging from active self-direction to complete reliance on others’ decisions. The support provided by mentors proved instrumental in unlocking their potential. Frustrating experiences served as a catalyst, strengthening their determination to regain legal capacity and actively engage in the training. The outcomes of the court proceedings significantly impacted their sense of agency; favorable decisions fostered a sense of self-efficacy and the ability to act as agents of their own lives, while unfavorable decisions spurred participants to defend their rights. Participants who successfully restored their legal capacity displayed heightened reflection, self-regulation, self-awareness, self-confidence, and a desire for continued growth. Several participants attributed these positive changes to the support they received and their participation in the training program. In contrast, participants who experienced court refusals exhibited a distorted sense of reflection. Ultimately, self-determination and the capacity to effect positive change in their lives were most evident following the restoration of legal capacity.