Coping with stress: the experiences of service-users with intellectual disabilities in forensic services
| Published date | 13 June 2016 |
| Date | 13 June 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-09-2015-0031 |
| Pages | 75-83 |
| Author | John Burns,Alexandra Lampraki |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour |
Coping with stress: the experiences
of service-users with intellectual
disabilities in forensic services
John Burns and Alexandra Lampraki
John Burns is a Clinical Nurse
Specialist (retired) at the
Psychological Treatment
Service, Calderstones NHS
Partnership Foundation Trust,
Whalley, UK.
Alexandra Lampraki is a
Research Assistant at the
Department of Research and
Development, Calderstones
NHS Partnership Foundation
Trust, Whalley, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –It is now widely acknowledged that stress negatively impacts holistic and well-being and has been
identified as a major global concern. The purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative research study
which sought to explore the experiences of stress and the use of coping strategies from the perspective of
people with intellectual disabilities (ID) currently residing within the forensic in-patient services of one National
Health Service Trust.
Design/methodology/approach –Data were gathered via focus group discussions involving
20 service-users with an ID. The data were subject to thematic analysis.
Findings –Data analysis produced three key themes: experiencing stress; sources of stress and coping
with stress.
Practical implications –The findings of the research study have implications for practice. These include the
need to utilise appropriate stress assessment measures and implement effective stress reduction and
management programmes to address the holistic needs of people with ID, to ensure forensic services are
truly high quality, person-centred and recovery focused.
Originality/value –Whilst stress experienced by people with ID residing in community settings has been
explored, no studies have focused on how stress is experienced by people with ID residing in forensic
services. This paper seeks to address this gap in the literature.
Keywords Behaviour, Stress, Intellectual disabilities, Support, Coping, Forensic services
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Stress has been identified as a major global concern (American Psychological Association,
2009). Seaward (2015, p. 6) defined stress as “the inability to cope with a perceived
(real or imagined) threat to one’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being which
results in a series of physiological responses and adaptations”. Whilst stress in itself is not a
mental illness, it is identified as the main precursor to anxiety and depression; the most
common mental health problem experienced within the UK (American Institute of Stress (AIS),
2015; Mental Health Foundation, 2014).
Research conducted in recent years has established that people with intellectual disabilities (ID)
experience the full range of mental health problems, to a greater extent than the general
population (Emerson and Baines, 2011; Royal College of Nursing (RCN), 2010). This increased
risk has largely been attributed to people with ID being more susceptible to the interaction of
biological, psychological and sociological factors which contribute to the development of mental
ill-health (RCN, 2010). Mental health problems are often presented by people with ID
Received 11 September 2015
Revised 3 November 2015
Accepted 9 November 2015
DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-09-2015-0031 VOL. 7 NO. 2 2016, pp.75-83, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824
j
JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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PAGE75
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