Staff ability to carry out behavioural strategies for individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours
| Published date | 04 July 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-01-2016-0002 |
| Pages | 248-257 |
| Date | 04 July 2016 |
| Author | Marian Klaver,Barbara van den Hoofdakker,Eke Bruinsma,Gerda de Kuijper,Pieter J. Hoekstra,Annelies de Bildt |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
Staff ability to carry out behavioural
strategies for individuals with intellectual
disabilities and challenging behaviours
Marian Klaver, Barbara van den Hoofdakker, Eke Bruinsma, Gerda de Kuijper,
Pieter J. Hoekstra and Annelies de Bildt
The authors affiliations can be
found at the end of this article.
Abstract
Purpose –The purposeof this paper is to give an overviewof studies that focused on variableslikely to affect
staffability to carry out behaviouralstrategies forchallenging behavioursin individuals withintellectual disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach –Literature review: studies that were published in a peer reviewed journal,
between 1999 and 2016, were selected for this review.
Findings –In total, 29 articles were selected. Several factors likely affect staff ability to appropriately carry out
behavioural interventions were identified: staff assumptions, distressing emotions elicited by challenging
behaviours, reciprocal reinforcement systems, service characteristics and cultural systems.
Originality/value –These findings raise the question what staff need in order to be able to change their
naturally occurring behaviours in response to challenging behaviours and to carry out behavioural
interventions. Future research may identify barriers and facilitators underlying the provision of effective
interventions, taking into account the possible role of staff beliefs, their emotions,service characteristics and
cultural systems.
Keywords Intellectual disabilities, Challenging behaviour, Behavioural interventions,
Service characteristics, Staff beliefs, Staff emotions
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Individualswith intellectual disabilitiesfrequently show challengingbehaviours, such as aggression,
self-injurious behaviour, destruction and withdrawal behaviour (Emerson, 2001; Holden and
Gitlesen, 2006; Lundqvist, 2013, Poppes et al., 2010). Although challenging behaviours can
present in differentways, one consistent consequenceis that they negatively impact the quality of
life of the individualand those in their direct surroundings(Emerson, 2001). Challengingbehaviours
may lead to physical injury, isolation, difficulties in the participation in community activities,
emotional exhaustion and burnout of staff and increased costs of service provision (Emerson,
2001). These findings strongly argue for interventions that aim to reduce the development and
maintenance of challenging behaviours in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
While there is considerable evidence that behavioural interventions may reduce challenging
behaviours in individuals with intellectual disabilities (Ager and O’May, 2001; Brosban and Healy,
2011; Campbell, 2003; Didden et al., 1997, 2006; Scotti et al., 1991), results of several studies
indicated that many individuals with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours do not
have access to behavioural interventions. Furthermore, those who have access, are likely to
Received 30 January 2016
Revised 3 June 2016
Accepted 4 July 2016
This paper received financial
support from Stichting Fonds
Zorgondersteuning. Stichting
Fonds Zorgondersteuning did not
impose any restrictions on free
access to, or publication of, the
research data. The authors declare
no financial or nonfinancial conflicts
of interest that may arise from the
publication of this paper.
PAGE248
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 10 NO. 4 2016, pp.248-257, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-01-2016-0002
To continue reading
Request your trial