The interaction between staff and clients with severe or profound intellectual disability and challenging behavior

Abstract

The staff-client interaction plays an important role in the development and maintenance or challenging behaviour of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Particularly^ the mutuality between staff behaviour and client behaviour is important in this context. Furthermore, severe challenging behaviour seems to elicit negative emotional reactions trom staff and these emotions may influence their behaviour. Another variable that influences staff behaviour are the beliefs that staff have about the challenging behaviour (Hastings, 2005). Although some studies have been dons in this domain, further research with more objective measurements is needed to confirm the relevance of these factors. In a first study, wβ have investigated the challenging behaviour of clients, and the beliefs, the emotional reactions, and the behavioural responses of staff members towards this challenging behaviour. We were interested in the possible relationships between these variables. We used four written questionnaires: the 'Challenging Behaviour Attributions scale' (Hastings, lθ≡7)∣ the "Emotional Reactions to Challenging Behaviours scales" (Jones & Hastings, 2003; Mitchell & Hastings, 1998); the “Reactions to Challenging Behaviours scale' (Lambrechts & Maes, 2006); and the ‘Behaviour Problems Inventory’ (Rojahn, Matson, Lott, Esbensen, & Smalls, 2001). One hundred fifty-two staff members working in 20 different residential settings participated. We were interested in specific staff-client dyads and focused on clients with severe or profound intellectual disabilities who displayed self-injurious behaviour, stereotyped behaviour, and/or aggressive/destructive behaviour. In a second study we will further investigate the relations between staff behaviour and challenging behaviour, between staff emotions and staff behaviour, and finally between staff beliefs and staff behaviour. The staff reactions to challenging behaviour will be observed by means of video recording. Staff emotional reactions and staff beliefs will be examined by semi-structured interviews. We will be able to investigate the circumstances that influence challenging behaviour and to look for an answer to the question if it is possible to observe mutual reinforcement processes between care staff and clients. Furthermore, we will have a more detailed and thorough view on staff emotional reactions and staff beliefs. Finally, we will figure out if it is possible to find a link between the reactions to challenging behaviour and the variables examined in the semi-structured interview.status: publishe