Understanding emotional and psychological harm of people with intellectual disability: an evolving framework
| Published date | 15 June 2012 |
| Pages | 110-121 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668201211236313 |
| Date | 15 June 2012 |
| Author | Sally Robinson,Lesley Chenoweth |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
Understanding emotional and
psychological harm of people with
intellectual disability: an evolving
framework
Sally Robinson and Lesley Chenoweth
Abstract
Purpose – A schema for more clearly understanding the emotional and psychological abuse and
neglect of people with intellectual disability was developed to support a narrative study with people with
intellectual disability, families and other supporters about the lived experience of this maltreatment in
disability accommodation services in Australia. This paper aims to describe the underpinning review of
emotional and psychological abuse and neglect and the evolving new framework.
Design/methodology/approach – A review of existing understandings of this form of abuse in research
and policy was conducted, and a framework developed and tested for ‘‘trustworthiness’’ with
participants in the research.
Findings – A framework of emotional and psychological abuse and neglect is presented. It centres on
the misuse of power and control, details behaviours and interactions which can occur when it is inflicted,
and is tested against the experiences of people who have experienced this sort of abuse and neglect.
Research limitations/implications – This is an evolving framework, applied through one study only.
Further application and research is needed to test the robustness of the framework.
Originality/value – A more complex construction of emotional and psychological abuse and neglect
may inform the development of service policy and support education for people with disability,families,
and workers.
Keywords Emotional abuse, Psychological abuse, Intellectual disability, Definition,
Accommodation services, Abuse framework, Mental health services, Australia, Disabilities
Paper type General review
Introduction
The views of people with intellectual disability about their experiences of emotional and
psychological abuse and neglect feature very little in either the disability studies or abuse
literatures. This paper draws from a narrative study which aimed to find out about these
experiences, working with people with intellectual disability, their families and other
supporters to develop a detailed picture of the emotional and psychological abuse and
neglect experienced by nine people whilst living in disability accommodation services in
Australia. While not reporting on the outcomes of the research, this article centres on the
issues of terminology we faced in defining this maltreatment, and our response to these
challenges.
We briefly canvass existing conceptions of emotional and psychological abuse and neglect
in the disability studies and related literatures, and in policy, with a particular focus on the
Australian context. Following this is a description of the development of an emotional and
psychological abuse and neglect framework which somewhat fleshes out this form
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THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
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VOL. 14 NO. 3 2012, pp. 110-121, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203 DOI 10.1108/14668201211236313
Sally Robinson and Lesley
Chenoweth are based in the
School of Human Services
and Social Work,
Griffith Health Institute,
Griffith University,
Brisbane, Australia.
At the time of writing, Sally
Robinson was a Research
Fellow based at The School of
Human Services and Social
Work, Griffith University,
Australia. She is now a
postdoctoral fellow at Southern
Cross University, Australia.
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